A barrel of fun at Tubber

A BARREL of Heineken was consumed with relish by members of the Finnerty’s Bar team who won the tug-of-war competition during the Tubber Show Festival.

With Galway County Councillor Gerry Finnerty as team manager, his charges won the bragging rights in the cross-border banter after proving too strong for teams from North Clare and South Galway.

Basking in brilliant sunshine, the seventh annual Tubber Show attracted large crowds from Thursday until the concluding event in Whealan’s Bar on Sunday, which was packed to the rafters for the visit of internationally renowned traditional music kingpins, the Kilfenora Céilí Band.

Local hurling team Beagh had plenty of reasons to celebrate after qualifying for the quarter-final of the Galway Senior Hurling Championship, thanks to their deserved win over Kiltormer. However, the clash with

Galway club championship matches meant a planned 11-a-side hurling tournament between teams from South Galway and North Clare had to be cancelled.

There were about 200 entries in the Horse Show, a little down on previous years. Raphel Lee from Headford won the main 1m class, while Kieran O’Connor and his son Ross, from Ruan, won the lead rein event. It seems success with horses is in the family as Kieran is married to Loretto O’Connor, a sister of well-known Tubber jockey Derek.

Martin O’Halloran, Bunnahow, Gort won a prize for having the best pin of lambs.

Tubber Show public relations officer, Sylvia Egan said the organisers were very happy with the success of events and the overall numbers and paid tribute to all the volunteers who helped out over the four-day event.