Festival Time
It’s festival time and the organisers, Broomhill Vintage Club are finalising arrangements for what promises to be one of the best festival weekends in the event’s four year history. Chairman of the Vintage club, Tadgh Murphy said, “we are almost there, we think we have everything in place and all we are hoping for now is big attendances and good weather. We like to think that we have something for everyone at this year’s festival. Our new events are very exciting from the 5 mile road race on this Friday to the egg throwing on the Sunday of the festival. We are again very fortunate to have so many generous sponsors within our own community and from neighbouring parishes and towns. Without our sponsors it would be impossible to hold such a large festival with so many different events over the three days. Our Festival is first and foremost a fundraising effort. We want to raise as much money as possible for Suicide Aware and for other local groups. We also want to put on a good show and ensure that everyone enjoys themselves. I would ask you all to put your hands in your pockets over the festival weekend and support all the events and buy some raffle tickets also. We have reduced our entry prices for the show on Sunday from €8 to €5 and the GAA have reduced their prices for entry into the Bachelor of the Festival show on Saturday from €10 to €5. We hope that these reduced prices will encourage even more of the public to attend, enjoy and partake in this year’s festival.”
The Festival kicks off on Friday August 16th with a 5 Mile Road Race. Registration is from 6.00pm at the GAA grounds and the race starts at 7.30pm. Walkers are also welcome and their start time is 6.45pm. The Vintage show on Sunday will see a huge gathering of Fordson Major Tractors. The organisers of the festival are asking those who are entering the Baking competitions to have their entries at the grounds before 12noon.
Festival Music
There is a wealth of music scheduled for the fourth Coachford Autumn Festival
Pa Malley entertains in Hogan’s, The Village Inn after the 5 mile Road Race on Friday August 16th..Aghinagh Comhtlás play at the open air Ceilí on Saturday from 7.00pm to 9.00pm. The Waterford comedy and music act,‘Bachelors in Trouble’ will entertain the audience during the interval at the Bachelor of the Festival competition and Millstreet band, ‘The Celts’ will play after the competition in the GAA Hall on Saturday August 17th. Tim O Riordan of Natural Gas plays live in concert at the Festival on Sunday August 18th and O’Riordan’s Bar have Music on the Sunday Evening from 8.00pm
Appeal to road users
The organisers of the Coachford 5 Mile Road Race would like all road users to be aware that runners and walkers will be on the public roads around the village on Friday August 16th from 6.45pm to 9.00pm. Motorists are asked to use caution, cooperate with stewards and be patient. The organisers would also like if as many people as possible could come out and support the athletes.
Bachelors on the look out
The Coachford Autumn Festival Bachelor competition takes place on Saturday August 17th from 9.00pm. 16 brave bachelors will take to the stage to endear themselves to the audience and the judges. These men who come from Rylane, Aghabullogue, Coachford, Dripsey, Carriganima, Peake, Bealnamorrive, Ballincollig and Millstreet are putting themselves forward to raise money for Suicide Aware and other local charities. Annette Dilworth Enright will be the hostess for the night and she promises to do her utmost to bring the contestant’s personalities to the forefront so that the audience and the judges get an opportunity to get to know the men in the brief period that they will be on stage for. Some of the contestants will have party pieces prepared to entertain the audiences.
The winner of the title and the €300 first prize will be picked by a combination of the judges decisions (which accounts for 60% of the marks) and the number of votes received from the public (which account for 40% of the marks).. Votes are only €1 each and can be purchased on the night or supporters can vote for their favourite bachelor by text up to Midnight on Friday August 16th.
The Coachford Tidy Towns have been working hard replacing the old plastic planters around the village with much nicer oak barrel planters. Chairperson of the group, Martha McCaffery said “ This is just one of the many projects we were committed to in 2013. We also planted the boat and this has really come on over the last few weeks and our scores in the Cork County Council Litter challenge were very encouraging. The black plastic planters served us well and were a great start for a group who had no finances. ” Martha also paid tribute to Tús worker, Martin Coughlan who finished recently. “ Martin was great to keep the village tidy and clean. He was always willing to tackle any project the Tidy towns asked him to do and he is really missed around the place. Let’s hope he is replaced soon with someone with the same enthusiasm and commitment.”
Ghosts, Graves & Generals’
The ACR Heritage Committee are hosting an event for National Heritage Week.
Anthony Greene will give a presentation on the good, the bad and the insignificant interred in Magourney & Christchurch Graveyards, Coachford on Saturday, 24th August at 2.00pm. This promises to a be a very informative and entertaining talk on our ancestors and the people who lived in our community down through the years. The meeting point for the day is the Car Park at the National School which is very convenient to both graveyards. Remember this is an outdoor event so please dress appropriately for the weather. All are welcome to this free event.
Lovely Carrig—Long ago
The Killanardrish/Carraigadrohid Tidy Towns Association are hosting a stroll through the beautiful village of Carrigadrohid as it was long ago as part of the Heritage week. Residents both past and present, neighbours and visitors are more than welcome to come along and experience a step back in time on Monday, August 19th from 7.00pm to 9.00pm
Coachford News 