With the decision to revive the Annual Festival in Kilmallock to coincide with the Headless Horseman Adventure Race, the Festival Committee had one aim and it was to provide something for everyone and they succeeded.
With everything in readiness and a carnival atmosphere pervading the festival weekend kicked off in Kilmallock with a ‘Fun Cycle’ early on Saturday afternoon. With the co-operation of Kilmallock Cycling Club who planned the route, the cycle left Deebert House Hotel, and at the mid way point had a pit stop for refreshments before returning to Deebert Housel where the children received their ‘goodie bags’ and the adults were able to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and a chat. Over 40 children joined in the fun as well as all the accompanying adults.
On Saturday evening the place to be was the Pastoral and Resource Centre, Kilmallock, for the much awaited ‘Kiddies Disco’. On Saturday night there was a choral recital in the Dominican Priory, ‘The Abbey’, where there was a tremendous display of local talent. Kilmallock’s three local choirs, Scoil Mocheallóg, Coláiste Iósaef Chamber Choir and Ss. Peter and Paul’s Church Choir, enthralled the crowd with their hymns and songs. Aisling Ahern sent shivers down people’s spines with her solo performance and when Niamh-Webb-O’Rourke joined her for the duet it was enchanting to listen to them, accompanied by Lisa Finn on guitar. Trevor McCarthy, Kilmallock Medieval Combat Society, did nothing short of stun people as they listened to Trevor’s vast knowledge of the Dominican Priory. He was captivating in his ‘story telling’ of the history attached to the 13th century building. Maggie McCarthy’s solo tin-whistle was, as always, an absolute pleasure to listen to and when young Ronan O’Brien, Munster, All Scotland and North American Champion Irish dancer took the stage, you could have heard a pin drop. Marita O’Doherty’s history of prayer had the audience captivated on both accounts and Deirdre Chawke was an absolute pleasure to listen to on the accordion. Robin Lee was the MC for the night and as always was top class.
On Easter Sunday morning it was an 8 am start as the participants in the Headless Horseman Adventure Race set off on bicycles from Deebert House Hotel to complete the forty five mile journey, which incorporated three stages: Kilmallock, the Ballyhouras, kayak around Lough Gur and back on the bicycle to Kilmallock. Around 11.15 am the first of the competitors started to arrive back in Kilmallock and everyone was safely home around 1pm
The festival committee would like to thank Kilmallock Tourism, Kilmallock FAS, Limerick County Council, An Garda Síochána, Ballyhoura Development, HSE, the local business people in Kilmallock who supported the festival, the local people who took part in the different events, the people who turned out to the events, the people who marshalled for the different events and anybody who helped in any way without whom the weekend would not have been possible. Congratulations to Fiona Hayes on a successful and very enjoyable Adventure Race.