by Peg Prendeville

Well, the White River Fest was a great success with everything, including the weather, going without a hitch. Yes, it did rain on Sunday night but at that stage it did not matter as all the outdoor events had been done and dusted. It began with the teen disco on
Friday night, followed by the céili on Saturday night and the barndance on Sunday night; all these events were very well supported and enjoyed by all. Meanwhile there was fishing, darts, art and craft exhibition by the ICA and numerous sporting events for the children and adults, the highlight of which was the novelty match between the Beach Babes and the White River Surfers. Both men and women got into their beach attire and you would be put to the pin of your collar to differentiate between males and females! It was all in the name of fun and everybody enjoyed it. The sun shone down on all these events making life much more comfortable and it was great to see the crowds enjoying themselves. Neighbours and friends had a chance to sit and meet up with each other in the marquee which was erected in the GAA grounds and where there was a tea/coffee stall sponsored by Kearney’s Bakery to celebrate 20 years in business this year. We wish this family business many more years of success. There was also a bar for those who wanted something stronger. Well done to the Bórd na nÓg
committee who has been working hard since January to ensure that this parish festival – the White River Fest – was a success. They proved it, without a doubt. Though one of the reasons it was organized was to raise some much needed funds the main purpose was to bring life and fun to the parish in this time of uncertainty. Hopefully it will become an annual event.

The Arts & Crafts exhibition in the Loughill Resource Centre,
organized by the ICA to celebrate the creativity within the Parish, proved to be successful also and left many people awed by the amount of stuff on display. There were paintings, decoupage, crochet, lace, embroidery, wood turning, beaded jewellery, cross stitch, long stitch, collages, as well as the many books produced in the parish. Both schools put in a great effort and loved being part of it all. When all this talent is put together it makes us aware of the many gifts that
people are given and how much enjoyment can be got from them. The ICA wishes to thank everybody who supported the event.

Glin Library will celebrate the Bealtaine Festival with an evening of poetry and storytelling on Tuesday 15th May at 8pm. The Loughill/Ballyhahill Going Strong group will be attending.