After 21 years of Carracastle Lass festivals in east Mayo, 2012 proved to be another excellent evening of entertainment on Saturday August 12. Entry from local businesses of a ‘Lass’ saw some excellent, talented and lovely young women enter the competition where they chatted with Tommy Marren, MWR, and performed a party piece on stage after some intensive interviews with this year’s judges.
This year’s participants were Katie Flatley, Caiseal Gaels; Niamh Newton, Davey’s Bar, Carracastle; Ailish McMillian, Johnnies Bar, Charlestown; Nuala Gallagher, Forge Bar, Tubbercurry; Sinead Flannery, Yeat’s County Inn, Curry; Rebecca Corley, Market Deli, Charlestown; Orlaith Duffy, Benson’s, Rooskey; Lisa O’Hora, Riverside Restaurant, Charlestown; Shannen O’Hara, May Queen, Tubbercurry.
The very difficult and challenging judging of the event this year was conducted by three people from outside the area of Carracastle: Liz Keane, Old Deanery Holiday Cottages, Killala; Joanne Grehan, Western Development Commission, Ballaghaderreen; and Gerry Jordan, Trek West, Ballina.
Tommy Marren was MC and as always provided a professional and relaxed atmosphere for the girls on stage when in front of the large audience.
Joe Dooney, chair, Carracastle Community Council said: “The organising committee would like to thank everyone involved in making the evening such a success and in particular the girls, the judges, sponsors, Tommy Marren, and especially to the family and friends of all the entrants as well as the many local people that came along. Funds raised from this event are vital to the running of the community centre and it’s great to get such support every year.
“After 20 years of being one of the key organisers and founding members of the Carracastle Lass, Teresa Murphy is stepping down. The committee would like to thank Teresa for all her hard work and dedication to the success of this festival over many years and she will be missed.”
