Scariff Harbour Festival

Record numbers attended this year’s ninth annual Scariff Harbour Festival, which saw people literally dropping from the sky to attend.  The festival has gone from strength to strength and this year was no exception with crowds coming out in force for each of the events organised.
Among the highlights were free concerts in the town square with Mundy and Paddy Casey, a special church concert with the Three Tenors, a dramatic sky-diving display, family fun day, a reading by poet and writer Dermot Bolger and the annual Waterways Ireland Cross Border Young Anglers’ Competition.
In addition, there was street theatre with Jim and Dr Nick, who performed on stilts, horse and wagon tours, boating tours and crafts fair.
A presentation was made to retiring Scariff parish priest Fr Pat Sexton, while tributes were paid to Scariff TD Michael McNamara and Mayor Pat Hayes.
At the official opening, festival chairman Mike Rodgers said, “Like many other places, we here in Scariff are at a crossroads in terms of our future.  We know the days of the miracle solution and the quick fix is gone but we ask you to give it your best shot on our behalf so that we can continue to live, work and be happy in our home place.
“Waterways Ireland has been the backbone of this festival. They gave us a focus and the financial support to realise a vision for putting Scariff and East Clare on the map and to let people know what a wonderful tourist gem we have in Lough Derg.”
A spokesperson for the festival believes this year was the best by far.
“Everything was so well attended. The numbers are the best we have had. I would estimate on the Saturday night there was anything from three to four thousand,” she said. 
The winner at this year’s angling competition came from East Belfast, with Eoin Connolly scooping first place with a 26in pike.