Clonmany Festival 2016: What's On Guide

This festival has always been to the fore in its top notch selection of big band entertainment and this year again brings you a superb lineup of the best of Irish Country and Folk music .

Clonmany Festival is somewhat unique in the sense that it caters exclusively for the family with very strong emphasis on providing traditional style entertainment, catering for very diverse tastes and crossing a very wide spectrum of age groupings.

Its programme of events and music sessions has long being the envy of many other similar type summer gatherings the length and breadth of Ireland. Clonmany Festival is somewhat unique in the sense that it caters exclusively for the family with very strong emphasis on providing traditional style entertainment, catering for very diverse tastes and crossing a very wide spectrum of age groupings.

This years’s festival begins on Sunday, when the festival parade will wind its colourful way down the picturesque village street of Clonmany for the 49th time - signalling the beginning of Ireland’s longest running and best known family festival.

This is now one of the longest running and well renowned events of its kind in the country and the hard working committee have ensured that yet again a bumper packed programme of entertainment and events will take place to make this a truly memorable occasion.

Both soccer and Gaelic football will have a full line up of events over the week for all age sectors. For those who want to pursue their sporting interests at a more leisurely pace – there will be a scenic walk – with those interested meeting at the Rusty Nail Pub on the Tuesday at 1pm.

The walk will be one of the newly marked out trails which have been laid out by the hard working members of Urris Development Committee. Following this theme there will be a climb of Slieve Snacht leaving from the North Pole Bar on the Friday afternoon. Cyclists will also be well catered for with a 30k tour on the Thursday hosted by the North Pole Cycle Club.

Tug-o-war for ladies and gents should again prove to be a popular attraction as should the raft race at Tullagh Point. This year along with the ever popular sand castle building competition, there will also be a pebble art competition at the beach. Those taking part should feel free to bring their own pebbles and their own props.

For the golfing enthusiasts a two day open will take place in Ballyliffin with a range of valuable prizes on offer to the winners. Children’s sports will as usual be held in the GAA Pitch in Straid on the Bank Holiday Monday.

Other long time favourites on the programme will be the Agricultural Show and Sheepdog Trials at the Pollan Green, next Tuesday as well as the Vintage Car and Machinery Rally in the Square on the second Sunday. Car treasure hunts as well as a more sedate walking treasure hunt will take place over the week which should appeal to a wide audience.

There will be bingo sessions, discos and of course all local hostelries and hotels will have a full programme of nightly entertainment. Other events include the Clonmany Market Day in the Square next Friday. Then on Saturday a Car Boot Sale will take place in the Square with everyone welcome to participate or browse through the cornucopia of treasures that will be on offer. On Wednesday afternoon in the Community Centre there will be a Youth Club Fun day.

Certainly Clonmany’s 49th Summer Festival offers plenty for all the family to enjoy over the course of its eight day programme so make this a firm date in your diary.