Leighlinbridge Tidy Towns 3.3

Barrowfest is coming to Leighlinbridge on 24th - 26th May 2013. This promises to be a fun-filled weekend of music, sport exhibitions and displays. Barrowfest is a whole parish and county based festival with the emphasis on family oriented activites. This event is part of 'The Gathering 2013' and as such we hope to cater for over seas visitors, be they returning family members or tourists looking for good quality Irish themed entertainment.
The centerpiece of this festival is the annual Carlow County Fleadh which is celebrating 10 years in Leighlinbridge. This fleadh (or 'feast' in English) does exactly what it says - providing a veritable feast of music,song and dance by performers of all age groups. Our fleadh this year has the usual mix of competitions, concerts, workshops, Ceili and a session trail in the village pubs showcasing the best of local and visiting talent.
For this special event other voluntary organisations have come on board to show the rich variety of activities which take place in Leighlin Parish all through the year. We expect to see exhibitions and novelty matches run by all sporting groups from Ballinabranna, Old Leighlin, Royal Oak and Leighlinbridge, music based groups will be popping up at various gatherings to highlight their talent. There will be photo exhibitions revealing the interesting past (and present) of Leighlinbridge. Youth groups in many different disciplines will perform special shows where we can witness the fantastic work being done by dedicated youth leaders.
Whereas many of the events will take place in the schools, halls and pubs of the village, there will be an emphasis on outdoor activities also. Over the weekend there will be ample opportunity to enjoy brilliant entertainment while (hopefully) basking in the lovely sunshine! The river Barrow (which runs through the village and gives our festival its name) will provide a stunning backdrop to the music and fun. Our successful open - air Fleadh B-B-Q will run once again in the Lord Bagenal Hotel on Sunday evening with live traditional music provided. One novelty item to be held will be the first ever barrow race over the Barrow! This should be great fun as one team member is wheeled by another in a wheel barrow along the village street. There will be various prizes for winners in different categories including first across the line, best fancy dress etc.
So there you have it. This festival belongs to the people of Leighlin Parish and with everybodys help and support could be one of the memorable highlights of the year! Whether you can take part, help out, invite visitors or just attend some of these events, you can help make it a success. Any enquiries or offers of help can be made to the following numbers. Thank You.
Mary Meaney 086-6027751 or David Sheridan 086-0877115