The Glenfarne Gala Festival Committee celebrate their 37th annual event next week, starting on Thursday, 2nd August and running through to Monday, 6th August with four tried and trusted events which include a pub team challenge in Kelly's Bar.
In between, the Committee have booked some of the biggest names on the Irish entertainment scene to appear in the Rainbow Centre, including Fermanagh's own Anthony McBrien. He moves into action on Friday night when he and his band provide the music for a Mock Wedding which is guaranteed to provide some quite serious craic, with a 'priest' on hand to do the needful and the 'bestman's' speech, and then the reception which is where Anthony comes in.
The previous (opening) night's programme ,,incidentally,, is directed at young people. There is a children's Fancy Dress disco at 6 o'clock and a teenage disco at 10 o'clock and, on the sporting side, there is an U-12 football tourney in St Mary's Park.
According to Anne McDermott, who is the festival committee secretary, this year's programme represents quality fare: "Anthony (McBrien) was here last year and he proved very popular. On the Saturday night (4th August) we have the hypnotist, Adrian Knight, and a disco afterwards. On Sunday night (5th August), we have Louis Moresby back with us. She was also here last year and is a firm favourite".
On Sunday, all day, there is the annual festival sports in the local GAA park at which there is traditionally a big turn-out. In fact, the Glenfarne Festival Committee seem to be able to bring in the crowds, as Anne confirmed.
"The rainbow Centre can seat between 500-600, and what we find is that a lot of visitors coincide their holidays to take in the festival, so that you get people from England and all over the place dropping in for festival week-end.
"Then, we get a lot of Fermanagh and Northern people generally coming to our dances. They're great supporters".
The festival closes on Monday, 6th August with four events, a fishing competition, a duck race in the nearby river, a car treasure hunt and a pub team challenge. So, all in all, what dies Anne think of this year's fare? - "It will be good. We're very happy with the programme. Mind you, we started planning this year's when last year's festival was over".
