The theme of this year’s Lady of the Lake Festival is ‘Back with a Bang’ and so far, with its vast range of events and stellar community support, it has been a blast.
Jilly Burden and Ivan Stephens.
Speaking to The Impartial Reporter, Joe Mahon – one of the festival organisers – said that he was delighted that the full festival programme is back, following last year’s reduced offering due to the pandemic.
“It’s going really, really well – there have been tremendous crowds,” said Joe, noting that there was a large crowd gathered in Irvinestown main street on Friday evening (July 8) for the festival opening event, where the new Lady of the Lake was unveiled.
Going on to share some highlights from the first weekend of the festival, Joe said: “On Sunday [July 10], there was the Donkey Derby in Necarne, and the tractor and trailer reversing competition along with games for the children.
“The whole of Necarne was packed. It was great,” he added.
There was plenty of chaos at the Donkey Derby, sponsored by Joe Maguire of Sydare Eggs, with jockeys falling off their donkeys, and some stubborn mules refusing to move.
According to Joe, one determined jockey travelled half-way around the world to compete in the popular event.
“Liam Og Leonard came home especially from Australia just to ride his father’s donkey, Daniel, in the Donkey Derby,” said Joe, noting that it was worth his while as he scooped first place.
Winner of the Donkey Derby Liam Og Leonard pictured with Daniel the donkey and event sponsor Joe Maguire of Sydare Eggs.
“He must have been training out there [on kangaroos]” he added.
The tractor and trailer reversing competition, which was sponsored by Walmsley Tractors, was a new event for this year’s festival and it proved a great success.
“All the young farmers were there, out reversing the tractors with trailers; it was a great event altogether,” said Joe, noting that the course was set up in one of the horse arenas of Necarne.
“[Competitors] had to reverse the trailer around the course, which was about a quarter of a mile long,” he added.
Winner of the tractor and trailer reversing competition Emmett Gillen pictured with Lady of the Lake Chloe McKevlin.
More than 60 farmers took part in the competition, and Emmett Gillen was crowned the winner.
During the weekend, there were various other competitions, which were all very well supported including the Game Fishing competition at Castle Archdale and Muckross, the Pet Show sponsored by Three Valley Vets, and the festival’s Bonny Baby competition sponsored by Gordon’s Chemist.
Patrick Petie Carlin.
Matthew Graham.
Ella Elliot holds wee sister, Mia.
The Clay Pigeon Shoot at Lettermoney saw a number of competitors shoot, with Graham Adams winning on the day.
Steven Ormsby, Ayria Carleton and Oscar Carleton with Loki the dog.
Fun fair
On Tuesday, July 12, Irvinestown main street was closed off for a fun fair.
“It’s the first time we’ve ever done that on the Twelfth of July, with music on the street and stuff,” said Joe.
Once again, the festival fair day was well-supported, with plenty of family-friendly fun at Necarne on Wednesday, July 13.
It also saw the return of the notorious sheep dung spitting competition, with Joe leading the way as always.
Looking towards the second weekend of the festival, there are plenty of exciting events still to come.
Tonight (Thursday) will see the Festival Fancy Dress parade through Irvinestown and the ever-popular Truck Run in aid of Marie Curie returns on Sunday, July 17.
“The truck show raises much needed funds for Marie Curie. It lost out over the past few years [with the pandemic] but hopefully we’ll be back bigger than ever, raising money for the important charity,” said Joe, explaining that the Truck Run sees on average around 500 lorries take part.
“Hopefully we’ll have the same this year. Loanes in Kesh says that they are bringing 30 lorries,” he added.
With live music in the town’s pubs and bars throughout the festival week, local band The Tumbling Paddies will close Lady of the Lake on a high at the festival finale dance in Mahon’s Hotel Delaney Suite on Sunday, July 17.
“It’s great to get the thing back on the road again, and everyone’s enjoying it,” Joe told this newspaper.
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