Reviewing the River Festival

It's just a week since the River Festival, which proved to be such a success. Click the picture above to get to a video compilation of the event, produced by Kilcullen-based videographer Gareth Landy's Blue Moon Productions. Well worth a viewing.

A quacker of a race at the River Festival

One of the regulars at the River Festival is the Duck Race organised by the Kilcullen Lions, and it will again be a key feature on Sunday. The proceeds are this year in aid of the Cross & Passion College Library Reading Project

In the nature of the Festival, it's hard to pin down the actual start time, but it will happen bestween 3.30pm-4pm.

According to Frances Clare of the Lions, the ducks are training well at the moment in Calverstown. They'll be on sale on Saturday outside Eurospar, between 9.30am-2.30pm, and also before the race itself on the day.

Always good quack … always a good cause.

Tracey will front River Festival

Television personality Tracey Piggot is to be MC for the day at Kilcullen's inaugural River Festival, the date of which has been changed to 29 August.

Preparations for the event, which is being enthusiastically backed by Kilcullen's business community, are now steaming ahead.

A tented market for local businesses, food producers and craftspeople to display and sell their products will be a centerpiece for the festival, which will also feature a number of events and activities based on and around the River Liffey.

The organisers have asked local pubs and sports organisations to provide tug-o-war teams for the competition which will be held across the river, for instance.

There will also be Gladiator-type water polo jousting, an inter-pub raft race, and a display of army vehicles.

The defence forces are also setting up the locations for the various on-river events, in cooperation with Kilcullen's Canoe and Outdoor Adventure Club.

A children's supervised play area will be available to keep the children safely entertained.

Arrangements have been made to close off Kilcullen centre to traffic for the day, in the interests of safety for all.

Kilcullen Lions are also running their annual Duck Race and Battle of the Bands in conjunction with the festival.

"The day will be fantastic fun," says organising committee member Geri Dineen. "But its success will rely very much on local participation."

In addition to the direct participation in the games and contests of the day, the organisers need face painters, clowns, musicians, general volunteers, and people prepared to help with the post-event cleaning up.

There's an email address, kilcullenriverfestival@gmail.com, for anyone who wants to get in touch with the organisers. Facebook.com/KilcullenRiverFestival2010 is the place to keep up with what's in play between now and the day.

Team working on festival

Some of the team behind Kilcullen's first River Festival, in the planning for August 22. Col John Courtney, Mary O'Neill, Brian Fallon, Geri Dineen, Steve Kinneavy and Tara Lynham.

River Festival in August

A River Festival is in the planning stage for Kilcullen on 22 August.

Among the ideas proposed are a a tented market on the bank below the Canoe Club which will include food stalls, crafts and local artisan supplies.

Raft building and racing on the Liffey is also in the frame, a cross-river Tug Of War, Gladiator water pole jousting and quite a bit more.

"The success of the day will rely much on local participation and we are looking for volunteers and participants for all the activities," says Festival Committee member Brian Fallon.

A FaceBook page has also been set up and application forms can be downloaded from it.

Further information from Brian at 087 2577464.


(Click above to go directly to Armelle's Kitchen.)