Athy Water Festival upcoming

The 2005 Athy Water Festival runs from Friday May 27 to Sunday May 29 and involves a number of events focusing on the river Barrow and the Barrow branch of the Grand Canal.

The North Barrow branch of the IWAI have taken the model of a boat festival and expanded it to engage the whole town in sharing in the fun of a water based festival.

In addition to the more than 30 boats expected to moor in the town during the festival, there will be angling competitions, heritage trails, information seminars, walking groups and boating activities. The latter will include the Heritage Boats Association, escorted cruises, rowing regatta, canoeing, kayaking, hovercrafts, Viking Longboats and business sponsored raft races.

Land based activities will include a market for water safety equipment, miniature steam trains (sponsored by Athy/Rhyl Inter-reg Programme), craft stalls, children's activities and a display of vintage fire tenders. The Viking Village re-enactment will include a Viking longboat from Northern Ireland.

A South African  market will have over 20 stalls of South African food, wine and crafts and some 2,000 South Africans are expected visit Athy for this year's festival.

Many infrastructural  improvements are in place and include landing jetties at all locks. The floating jetty and pump-out station in Athy will be in place for this year's festival. The slip way in Athy can take boats up to 12 metres in length.

More information from Vivian Cummins at 059 9145928 or visit the website.