Croí na hEireann Festival aims to lift Athlone spirits
The Croí na hEireann Festival committee is promising a fun-filled five days of festivities for all ages over the coming St Patrick's weekend in Athlone, running from March 16 to 20.
As the first festival in the post-lockdown era, organisers believe Athlone needs a lift and they hope to provide this for the public and local businesses.
Along with the traditional St Patrick's Day parade, now taking place as the finale on Sunday, March 20, there's quite a range of events from an American football match, a ceilí mór, a trout fishing competition, an art exhibition, a scavenger hunt for kids and historical walks planned over the long weekend.
At the festival launch recently, organisers appealed for sponsorship and volunteers to come on board for the event, kicking off on the new public holiday on Friday, March 18 with a ceilí mór event with renowned local band 'Rise the Dust' providing top-class entertainment at a venue to be confirmed.
On the same day, there will be a trout fishing competition on the lake organised by Lough Ree Angling Federation.
Then on Saturday, there's a great chance to see the buzz of American football as the Westmeath Minotaurs take on the Philadelphia Fire & Police Departments in Páirc Chiaráin, Athlone. For night owls, there will be live music and darts competitions around town, while families can enjoy the Greenway Scavenger Hunt from the White Gates to the Garrycastle GAA Clubhouse.
Paddy's Rambles will see organised walks taking in areas of local historical interest on Wednesday and Saturday, while an exhibition of work by upcoming artists should also prove popular.
Holding the parade on Sunday (March 20) allows the organisers to access the superhero characters like Super and Spiderman and so many bands that were popular in 2019. While the specific theme has yet to be announced, the committee says it will be based around the 100- year anniversary of the foundation of the State. Other events will be confirmed shortly.
“As a nation we have just come out of a sustained period of oppression from an outside force that was Covid where our freedom of movement, freedom of assembly in large groups, and for the most part a lack of freedom in our own decision-making abilities was taken from us so there are remarkable similarities between what must have been the mood of the entire Irish nation back then, and what it is like now," Chairperson John Henson remarked.
He is calling for support from businesses in terms of sponsorship and by facilitating posters and decorating shopfronts. The intention is to make the Athlone Croí Na hEireann Festival an annual event.
“The opportunity is here with us now to build on the success of the fabulous inaugural festival back in 2019,” Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council and Treasurer of the Athlone Croi Na hEireann Festival, Cllr Frankie Keena added.
The parade on Sunday, March 20 will be the finale and the committee is promising a spectacle of amazing floats, marching bands and community groups. Any groups, organisations and companies who would like to participate should email athlonecroinaheireann@gmail.com