Brideswell to host major five-day Pattern Festival

The launch of Brideswell Pattern Festival took place Saturday night last in Hamrock's Brideswell in front of an excellent turnout with this year's festival promising to be even bigger and better than previous years. Guest speakers on the night were Micheal Spellman (Chairman of Roscommon LEADER Partnership) and Eugene Murphy (Shannonside Radio). Both speakers voiced their support for the festival and wished the committee every success in the coming weeks in the run up to the festival weekend. The Festival has moved from the traditional one-day event to a much expanded five day festival running on the last weekend in July from Thursday, July 26 to Monday, July 30. The festival will open in O'Connell's Bar, long-time supporters of the event, on Thursday with a traditional music session. On Friday night, July 27, the Festival hosts Seamus O'Rourke's new play 'The Sand Park' in the Festival Marquee. This is an uplifting and sometimes hilarious account of how a big-hearted Offaly farmer comes to terms with the death of two family members. In this play O'Rourke has another look at rural Irish life, this time through the eyes of James Anthony Lowery (senior), a big jolly GAA man who just wants to get on with things. He talks about the fun of life, the ritual of death and what happens when either one is altered. If this isn't enough to whet your appetite Brideswell will also have De 2 Willies performing throughout the night in the marquee. Tickets are €10 and can be purchased from any committee member. Doors open at 8pm and the play starts at 8.30pm. The following day, Saturday, boasts a number of festival highlights including a fair day in the village as well as a walk in association with the local defibrillator group and heritage cycle.One of the major highlights of this year's festival will be the Down N'Dirty obstacle course - a brand new fun and run challenge that will push you to the limit. This involves a cross-country challenge that you will never forget, full of natural and man-made obstacles, slides, net scrambles, bridges and much much more. Up for the craic? Then this is the challenge for you. Registration can be done online or by post. Join us now www.downndirtyirl.com or on Facebook for more information. This will be followed by dancing in the Festival Marquee to popular country singer Mike Denver and his band. Sean Brennan will perform from 9pm as a support act so come early to get a good seat. Tickets can be purchased from any committee member and Doors open at 8.30pm. Tickets are €15 and people are encouraged to purchase early to avoid disappointment. Sunday will also play host to an action-packed schedule of events starting with the Annual Pattern Mass at 12 noon in the village followed by a Cake Sale in aid of Brideswell National School, Wheel of Fortune and Local Business Fair. There will also be children's workshops, entertainment and amusements, soccer tournaments, traditional stations and the ever popular sheep racing. Festival goers can then wind down on Sunday evening with music from 'The Underdogs' between 6-8pm which will be followed by a Céilí Mór with the Glenside Céilí Band in the Festival Marquee from 9pm €10 entry applies. The festival finishes up with music by The High Reel on Monday at 10.30pm in Hamrock's Bar, one of the main sponsors of the festival. For further information or to book tickets please contact Tomás on 086 0876933 or email: ideswellpatterncommittee@gmail.com Log on to our new website which was launched on Saturday 30th June www.brideswellpatternfestival.com or join us on Facebook.