Plans are being finalised for the second annual Croí Caisleáin an Bharraigh (Heart of Castlebar ) shopping festival which is to take place on Saturday, July 21.
Following on from the hugely successful inaugural event where up to 10,000 people visited Mayo’s county town during the four-day shopping festival, this year’s event will bring even more ‘dathanna agus craic’ to the heart of Castlebar with some exciting additions to this year’s festival.
The local traders have thrown themselves fully behind the 2012 Heart of Castlebar festival which will see shopping promotions across the businesses all weekend as well as ‘tuilleadh sraideanna dúnta’. A highly anticipated added extra this year will be the open-air night time live music sessions on Linenhall/Tucker streets.
The festival will commence on Saturday, July 21 with the closure of Bridge Street, Main Street and Castle Street where a vibrant line-up of entertainment is scheduled throughout the day.
Midwest Radio will broadcast from croí Caisleáin an Bharraigh, while Castle Street will stage its own Heritage Day (Lá Oidhreacha ).
Main Street will host up to 20 art, craft, clothing, and food stalls which promise to stock an eclectic mix of goods to suit all tastes.
An ‘amhráin Gaeilge ar an tsraid’ competition will take place with details to be announced nearer the event.
Children will definitely be drawn to the town’s Market Square where amusements of all descriptions will be set up as well as puppet shows, face painters, and lots, lots, more dotted throughout the pedestrianised streets.
Other events planned for the festival include an historical tour, a display of old ‘Contae Mhaigheo leabhra agus griangrafanna’ in the old Erris Hotel on Castle Street, a ukulele competition, as well as various genres of musical entertainment. Mayo Arts Squad will bring a splash of colour, while the Town Band, who added hugely to last year’s event which doubled as the official opening of the revamped Main Street, have once again been invited to participate.
Agus ní stopann an chraic anseo. The festival will continue into the night with Linenhall Street and Tucker Street staging an outdoor live music session until 11pm with the entertainment then moving into the local pubs.
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny will be attending the festival as well as the newly inaugurated Town Mayor Cllr Brendan Henaghan and a host of local dignitaries.
Further information and updates will be posted in the local press, on local radio and on the Castlebar Chamber and Destination Castlebar Facebook pages. ‘Bigí linn i gcóir an craic, an comhra agus an ceiliúradh.’
