Races of Castlebar Festival returns
Ronan Moran, chair of the festival’s organising committee, pictured at the launch of the Races of Castlebar event.
The Races of Castlebar Festival is returning to the county town.
Last year’s event was a major success and the festival is set to thrill again when it is staged during the May Bank Holiday weekend.
Organised by Castlebar Lions Club, there will be historical re-enactments, talks, tours, and musical , sporting events, and fun for the entire community.
Last year’s festival commemorated the 225th anniversary of the 1798 Rebellion and this year’s event will have a special Races of Castlebar theme.
The festival was launched in the TF Royal Theatre and Hotel recently with Catherine Gagneux from the French Consulate among those in attendance.
“Catherine has been a tremendous support and brings a European and international dimension to the festival,” said festival committee chair Ronan Moran.
In keeping with the Races of Castlebar theme, there will be a special park run at Lough Lannagh and a dragon boat race on the lake over the weekend.
There will be lots of live music and a family fun day at the Mall.
Michael O’Connor detailed some of the historical events that will grace the weekend.
“It would be easy to look on last year and what we achieved and take the view that if it’s not broke don’t fix it. We are throwing that out the window and trying to bring something new this year,” said Michael.
Among the highlights will be s special ceremony at John Moore’s graveside on the Mall.
“We are planning to do something that to my knowledge has not been done in Castlebar before. We are going to call aloud the name of the fallen,” said Michael.
There will be a cultural evening in the TF that will tell the story of the journey of French soldiers from La Rochelle to Castlebar through songs, folklore, poetry, and art.
The march of the Pikemen will once again grace the streets of Castlebar amongst a series of re-enactments and historic and cultural events planned.
