The launch of Brideswell Pattern Festival will take place next Thursday June 27 in O’Connell’s Bar, Brideswell, where this year’s jam-packed schedule of events will be unveiled
Special guests at the launch will be Brendan Shine and Jim Miley, project director with The Gathering 2013. Music on the night will be by The Gathering!
The festival, which gets underway on Thursday July 25, promises to be even more popular and enjoyable than last year, with an action-packed schedule on offer with something for all tastes.
Events will get underway this year with an excuse to get your dancing shoes on in the form of a Fáilte Céilí on Thursday July 25 in the Festival Marquee with music by Glenside Céilí Band.
This will be followed on Friday June 26 with an opportunity to rediscover your roots in conjunction with The Gathering 2013. Visit your local townland with the assistance of a guide. Roll books from local schools will also be available for viewing.
On Friday evening the festival will celebrate past and present members of the parish and surrounding area who played Gaelic football, hurling, soccer, or camogie in O’Malleys field in Cam. All those who played are invited to field for souvenir photographs. It will then be back to the village to take part in a Traditional Night in the Festival Marquee. Why not book a table for you and your family to eat a traditional dish and enjoy some old style entertainment novelty acts including the Straw Boys, singing, and dancing, all performed by local groups. Tickets are available from committee members.
Saturday July 27 is packed with entertainment for all age groups, starting in the morning with an old style village fair.
Saturday’s schedule will also include one of the major highlights of this year’s festival - the Down N’ Dirty obstacle course. Last year saw over 135 brave people take to the course. This year’s course will test competitors but also to be a fun event for individuals and groups, with natural and manmade obstacles, slides, net scrambles, and bridges, as well as a number of new obstacles that promise to be challenging and mucky.
Registration can be completed prior to the event by downloading the application form from www.downndirtyirl.com or visit Facebook for updates, give-aways, and more information.
The entertainment will continue on Saturday night with Mike Denver and his band who are back by popular demand in the Festival Marquee. You are encouraged to purchase tickets early to avoid disappointment.
Sunday July 28 sees the annual Pattern Mass at noon in Brideswell followed by the family fun day which includes cake sale, wheel of fortune, local business and craft fair, children’s entertainer, and traditional Stations of the Cross.
Sunday evening also promises to be one of the highlights of the weekend with a special night of entertainment celebrating 50 years on the road with Brendan Shine and his band. The night will include some of Ireland’s best known entertainers.
The Festival will draw to a close on Monday night in Hamrock’s bar with music and barbeque.
For more information see www.brideswellpatternfestival.com, email [email protected], or find the festival on Facebook.
