Gather by the Feale 2014

GATHER BY THE FEALE 2014: After a hugely successful launch last weekend there are just seven more sleeps to go before Abbeyfeale is on fete!  Plans are finalised for the Festival, the brochure has been printed and is available all around town and of course in the Festival Office which is located in Mary Dan G’s, Main St.  The festival bands have also arrived and are available at the Festival Office, Leens Hotel, Supervalu and Ann Lyons.  We ask everyone to purchase one for just €5 and wear it with pride for the week.  This will allow admission to most events and the monies collected will go into a war chest for future Gather by the Feale’s.  We have made a conscious decision to be as inclusive as possible and cater for all age groups so on Wednesday there will be a Wobbly Circus for the smallies during the Viking Plunder, Tug of War for Seniors (!), Ladies and Under 21’s , there’s a free night of dancing to Mike Condon at the Railway and the Rambling House in the Ploughman for the rest of us.  Then, on Thursday there’s a workshop on Hair and Makeup for the girls, we won’t run the boys either if they turn up, Shuttle Busses will leave for Feale Fit Boot Camp for the Fittest Family from 6pm, we have the Heritage talk with Eamon Ó Liatháin, there’s the Batchelor Slave Auction and a Bat walk in the Town Park for those of us not batty enough already.  Friday has the food and craft fair with some of the stalls already booked including Jim Lenihan with hand crafted sugan chairs, bird boxes and garden seats, Jim O’Brien with home-made cheeses from Ballyhahill,   Drumanilra Organic Farm with their freshly cooked burgers, Lizzie Lyons with her crab sandwiches and chowders, a chocolate fountain, a gluten free baker, a waffles stall and Flor’s coffee and cupcakes. This will be followed by the fancy dress Trade Wars with businesses in town dressing up and competing in the Square against each other – organisers have some surprises in store.  Check out the supply of Viking outfits and helmet on sale in the Festival office at Mary D G’s to help out with fancy dress dilemmas.   Later on we have No Direction on the Gig Rig and a Teen Disco with D J Killian Murphy in the Grove with N21 in Matt McCoys until late. Saturday has a Treasure hunt for U10’s and 10’s plus in the Town Park, An Arts and Crafts Workshop in the Grove as well as the annual Nolie Roche Tag Rugby Tournament which will include BBQ, music with No Direction and plenty of activities for all the family.  This will be followed by the Gospel and Folk Mass at 7pm  and live music on the Gig Rig featuring Sound as a Pound, Kadie Harnett and the Young Woulfe Tones with the Threshing Mill Boys across the road in Matt McCoys.  There’s also a 41 Card Game at Fr. Casey’s from 9-11pm and a festival special at The Railway Bar from 9.30pm with Micheal Collins. Families are well catered for on Sunday in the Grove with the Family Fun Day featuring a Mega Slide, bungee jumping, animal roadshow, Bouncy Castle, Berge Motor Track, children’s Tug of War, Food and Ice Cream stalls and more. There’s also the 7 a side at Riverside Park, the Battle of the DJ’s on the Gig Rig in the Square and to finish there’s a Scatterin’ Disco in Ruby’s and The Baldy John Show in Matt Mc Coys.  See our website: http://abbeyfealefestivals.wordpress.com for regular updates.  We also have a Gather by the Feale facebook page.