Rahan Mummers from Co Offaly retained their title as champions in the senior event at New Inn Mummers’ Festival last weekend, while Lackagh Junior Mummers were the big winners in the junior event.
New Inn Leisure Centre was packed on Saturday night for the senior event. The victorious Rahan Group produced a highly polished and entertaining show, and shaded the verdict over a strong Lackagh group, with the Kilnadeema Mummers taking third prize.
This year’s Best Musician award went to Ciara Stapleton of Kilnadeema, while the Best Dancer award went to Claire Greaney of the Lackagh Mummers. Sacara Furey of Lackagh took the award for Best Flute Player, while the Best Singer award went to Sarah Corcoran of the Ballymacward Mummers.
Pat Ward from the Ballymacward Mummers was again the Best Storyteller at the festival, his third victory in a row. James Hogan of Rahan took the Sean Dolan Perpetual Trophy as the Most Outstanding Entertainer at the festival. Best Individual awards went to Maura Fahy of Lackagh, Sinead Curley of Ballymacward, Yvonne Barrett of Kilnadeema, and Cianna McGarrigle of Rahan.
There was a fantastic crowd again on Sunday afternoon for the staging of the junior competition, and the young performers treated patrons to a feast of fantastic entertainment.
The adjudicators’ decision proved a popular one when they declared Lackagh the winners for 2009, with Rahan filling the runner-up spot and Kilnadeema Juniors taking third prize. This was a fantastic competition and there was very little separating the groups that participated.
The Best Junior Musician award went to Cathal Guinan of Rahan, while Michael Gardiner of Kilnadeema Juniors took the Best Dancer award. Kilnadeema won the Best Flute Player award with Katie Forde, while Shane Lynam of Rahan scooped the Best Singer award. Paul Holohan of Kilnadeema Wrenboys received a great reaction from an appreciative audience to secure the Best Storyteller award. The Most Outstanding Young Entertainer Award went to Gareth Delaney of Rahan. Best Individual awards were presented to Keith Fahy of Lackagh, Mark Holohan of Kilnadeema, Michael McGarrigle of Rahan, and Shauna Coppinger of Kilnadeema.
Closing festival 2009, chairman Michael Mullins thanked the loyal patrons for their tremendous support over the past three decades, and he welcomed the many people who were there for the first time. He said that the reason the festival was so popular was because of the quality of the entertainment on offer, and he paid tribute to everyone who took to the stage over the weekend. He had particular praise for all the junior competitors, and complimented their coaches and mentors for their dedication and commitment. He said the quality of entertainment on offer in New Inn over the week-end was far superior to anything produced by our TV stations over Christmas.
He then went on to thank the very many people who helped to make the festival such a success, and the local media, both print and radio, for their great coverage of the festival. He thanked the local clergy for publishing the event in parish newsletters. He complimented the festival committee, the community council, and support teams for making it all happen. He singled out for special mention the fantastic ladies’ committee who catered for competitors and patrons, and who looked after the shop. He also thanked Joe, Martina, and Keith Cunniffe for providing a most professional sound and lighting system for the festival.
Mr Mullins had a special word of thanks and appreciation for the festival secretary Michael Finnerty, who did a fantastic job again this year, and there was a special word of congratulations for him and his wife Áine on the recent birth of their daughter Aoife. He then paid tribute to festival adjudicators Tom O’Connor from Athlone, and Áine O’Connor from Rahara, Co Roscommon, for taking on this tough assignment and for their professionalism and fairness.
Mr Mullins thanked the sponsors for their support and commitment to the festival and said that without them it would not be possible to stage the event.
A minute’s silence was observed at the festival as a mark of respect to the late Mick Nutley of New Inn, who died recently. Mr Nutley had given many colourful performances on stage at the festival over the years, and the chairman praised his contribution to the success of the event over the years. Sympathy was extended to his family and many friends.
