Pure Craic!
May 28th, 2007Pure Craic at Kenmare’s Pure Festival Extravaganza!
Kenmare’s first ever Pure Festival Friday May 25th-Sunday May 27th was a phenomenal success. Hordes of people descended upon the town on a usually quiet weekend to sample the flavours and enjoy the exciting itinerary the festival had to offer.
Former Kerry legend and current Limerick manager Mickey Ned O’Sullivan opened the festival on Friday night where the Johnny Reidy Ceili band performed a traditional Dancing at the crossroads ceremony. Mickey Ned welcomed everyone to the picturesque town and told visiting tourists that everything about Kenmare was pure and beautiful and that the festival was a reflection of this. After his warm and welcoming speech, festivities got under way with a rousing set. Troupes of local set dancers danced into the night on a specially constructed wooden platform stage. The music drew people from far and wide and a huge crowd assembled for the amazing spectacle.
On Saturday the Wellness Park in the town park was a huge success with massage, aromatherapy and thalassotherapy being offered to passers by. Tai Chi also took place in the park and many spectators joined in making it a very inclusive atmosphere. The highlight of Saturday was undoubtedly the huge ‘Cirque de Kenmare’ Parade which literally brought the entire town to a standstill for one breathtaking hour. The parade was led by the Macteo group from the world famous MACNAS and they did not disappoint. The colour, rhythm and costume of theses performers was dazzling and a delight to behold. Hundreds of free balloons were distributed to the children on the streets further increasing the vivid colours and magical atmosphere of this amazing spectacle. Local groups such as Kenmare GAA teams, Kenmare Kestrels basketball club, Internazionale Soccer Club and FSKD Martial Arts school also marched in the parade which concluded with the sounds of the excellent Millstreet Pipe Band. The town square then came alive to the beat of around 40 drums as Macteo put on a riveting display of dance on the stage.
This was followed by Rick O’Shea from 2FM who held dancing competitions for Kenmare’s very own Beat on the Street in spite of the rain which was coming down very heavily at this stage.
Later that night, Cajun band ‘Two time polka’ who were performing open air on the gig rig had a surprise visitor when the victorious Jackie Healy Rae arrived in town with a cavalcade of hundreds of supporters! This further added to the atmosphere of celebration and jubilation amongst the festival goers.
Sunday opened with a Farmers Market and during the day there were several art exhibitions with delicious food and wine on offer from local suppliers. The Guinness and Jazz Brunch in the Brook Lane hotel was a huge success also. The festival closed Sunday night with live music in many venues around the town including the fantastic Reggae band ‘Unite Tribe’ who had the entire content of P.F. McCarthy’s pub dancing to a decidedly Caribbean beat.
All in all, a hugely successful weekend which is guaranteed to see the Festival go from strength to strength. As festival Chairman Paul Walsh said ‘Our focus is now on next year and securing top acts for Pure Festival 2008’. He also praised local suppliers and business people who were so generous and supportive of the Festival ‘the Festival could not have happened without local backing so a huge thank you goes out to all who made this amazing weekend such a big success’. So put Kenmare’s Pure Festival 2008 in your diaries now, it’s going to be a big one!
