Tag Archives: Féile Brían Ború

THE organisers of Féile Brian Ború are considering modifying the way it runs next year’s festival even if Covid-19 is no longer an issue, writes Dan Danaher. Most of the events for the recent 28th Annual Féile Brian Ború were held online due to Covid-19 restrictions. Arlene White of Féile Brian Ború admitted this year’s experience had changed their overall view on how the festival should be run over the coming years. “We didn’t miss the running and racing between venues. This year’s festival has changed the way we will run it in 2022. “There is no harm in changing things. There will be a change in how we do things. Previously, we had a dog competition, but the pet photographic competition worked very well. “The performance by local singer, Norma Manley with Brendan Pooley on guitar in Killaloe Cathedral on Saturday night was beautiful. There doesn’t have to be a huge concert for people to enjoy an intimate performance …

A FEAST of entertainment fit for a king will be offered online and outdoor for locals and visitors during the 28th annual Féile Brian Ború, which runs from July 7 to July 11. Last year, people were disappointed with the cancellation of the festival due to Covid-19. However, it goes ahead this year, albeit with some changes in line with Covid-19 restrictions. Earlier in this year, Arlene White of Féile Brian Ború, recalled the organising committee weren’t sure if the festival would go ahead and were fortunate to apply for, and be granted funding. “I think it could be very hard to come back and organise a festival next year, if we took this year off, presuming next July should be okay concerning Covid-19. “There is a buzz of excitement about the festival this year. While we don’t have events organised for Sunday, July 11, we are hoping people will download one of the new apps and explore the sites …

THE Féile Brian Ború committee does not want another year to go by without twin towns Killaloe and Ballina, celebrating their annual festival, so they are organising a slightly different series of events this year. Denied numerous entertainment events as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, locals and visitors are looking forward to the return of this festival, which runs from July 7 to July 11 next. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, last year’s Féile Brian Ború did not go ahead as planned from July 8-12. It was really disappointing for the committee to be take a break from the annual festival for the first time since 1993, but they acknowledged at the time everyone’s safety was far more important. To ensure the festival isn’t postponed for two successive years, the committee has decided to pivot towards online workshops, classes and talks. The committee has already organised historical talks; self guided historical walks; online art and drawing classes; a dog photo …

THERE will be no official St Patrick’s Day Parade in the twin communities of Killaloe and Ballina for the second year in a row due to Covid-19 restrictions. However, Killaloe community volunteer, Eddie O’Gorman has decided to organise a mobile St Patrick for the benefit of local children who can’t look forward to the traditional St Patrick’s Day parade. St Patrick will be standing on the back of a trailer towed by a car festooned by an arch of balloons by Emma Hickey from Boru Balloons. Féile Brian Boru has loaned a St Patrick’s Day costume to Eddie for use on the day as well as plenty of flags and bunting. Eddie has appealed to adults and children not to congregate in groups once he comes into their housing estate and to observe all social distancing Covid-19 guidelines. The mobile St Patrick will head off from St Lua’s Villas, Killaloe at 2 pm tomorrow up to Crossroads, down Convent Hill …

THE DEATH of the last surviving member of the Kennedy family has evoked memories of the time she opened a well known cultural festival in Killaloe. Jean Kennedy Smith, the last surviving sibling of President John F. Kennedy and a former United States of America ambassador to Ireland, who died last week, officially launched Féile Brian Ború in the mid nineties. Ms Smith was the eighth of nine children born to Joseph P and Rose Kennedy, and she tragically outlived several of them by decades. Her siblings included older brother Joseph Kennedy Junior, killed in action during the Second World War; Kathleen “Kick’ Kennedy, who died in a 1948 plane crash; the president, assassinated in 1963 and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, murdered in 1968. Senator Edward Kennedy, the youngest of the Kennedy siblings, died of brain cancer in August 2009, the same month their sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver died. Michael Durack, who was involved with the Killaloe Writers, presented the …

THE latest East Clare festival to fall foul of the Covid-19 restrictions is the hugely popular Féile Brían Ború, which organisers have decided to call off in the interests of public health and safety. Chairperson of East Clare Tourism and member of the organising committee, Arlene White, said that while the decision had been a tough one to make, hopes had been gradually fading over the last couple of weeks. The 2019 festival took place on the second week in July, and in the context of the roadmap for re-opening the economy, organisers couldn’t envisage a similar gathering on the shores of Lough Derg in just over five week’s time. “Last year, we had 2,000 people for the fireworks display, and we just couldn’t have crowds of that size in the context of the coronavirus restrictions,” Ms White explained. “Our organising committee also arranges the Killaloe St Patrick’s Day parade, and once we had to call that off, we started …