Rathmullan’s Community Festival will be awash with events for everyone!

Rathmullan’s reputation as one of Donegal’s top tourism destinations grows by the day.

The seaside’s town’s community spirit combined with its superb location has made it a hot-spot for visitors from near and far.

And if you happen to be near Rathmullan in the coming days then it promises to be extra special with so much to do and see.

The town hosts its 21st Annual Community Festival over the course of  a number of days into next week.

There really is something for everyone including garden fetes, singing pub competitions, nature trails, live concerts, fishing competitions,  soccer competitions, arts and crafts and lots, lots more.

The vast majority of all the events are free but collectors will be asking for the odd donation around the town.

For a full list of events for what promises to be an action-packed few days on the shore of Lough Swilly, please see below.

Pre-Festival Events

Fri 26th July:               Singing Pub White Harte Bar

                                    Selection of White Harte Festival Rose and Prince will take place.

 

Sat 27th July:               12 noon – Glenalla Annual Garden Fete in aid of St Colmcille’s Church

Glenalla, held at Franklins Estate.

 

Singing Pub Big Paddy’s

Selection of Big Paddy’s Festival Rose and Prince will also take place.

Sun 28^thJuly:                Trolley Push in aid of Festival.

Mon 29^th July              Kids Art Workshop by Art Farm from 2.30pm in Resource Centre

Arts & Crafts for kids, age 4-12years, €5 per child.Booking essential only 20 places available, contact RDRC on rdrc10@gmail.com or phone 074-9158724

Tues 30^th July              3-5pm Brick 4 Kidz workshop for 5-12 year olds.

                                    Booking essential on www.bricks4kidz.ie/donegal/summer-camps or

by contacting 086-3894833.

Wed 31^st July              4.30pm – Children’s Nature Trail with Aengus Kennedy of Nature North West.  Booking essential, max places is 30, booking essential by contacting RDRC on rdrc10@gmail.com or phone 074-9158724. €3 per child, participants to gather at Festival Office (located beside new toilets) from 4.20pm.

 

Singing Pub Beachcomber

Selection of Beachcomber Festival Rose and Prince will take place. Final selection of Festival King and Queen for 2019 will also take place.

Thurs 1^st Aug:              2-4pm -Children’s Disney Trail

Can you find the Disney Movie Characters around the town, name the character and the film.  Registration at the Festival office located beside the new toilets.  €2 per child, family of 3 €5. 

 

3-3.45pm – Jumping Clay Workshop at the Resource Centre.  Theme is  “Ringo the Wild Atlantic Octupus coming to Rathmullan Festival”

Workshop is for 7-12 year olds with a max of 20 places available.

                                    Booking essential by contacting RDRC at 074-9158724 or drc10@gmail.com.

   6.30 – 8.30pm  Fishing Competition at the Pier.  Thomas & Liam McCarron

Memorial, Junior & Senior Categories.  Bring your own rods. Entry fee €5 for adults and €3 for children

 

Festival Weekend:

Whilst there is no admission fee to the on-street entertainment, as you can appreciate the cost of insurance and entertainment amounts to a large total.  As usual the Festival Committee will be collecting each evening of the festival and urge you to please give a generous and appropriate donation.

Fri 2nd Aug:

12 noon:                      Join Donegal poets Maureen Curran & Colette Ni Ghallchoir in AnBonnanBui, Pier Rd, Rathmullan for a bilingual lunchtime poetry reading.  Audience members at this event are welcome to bring a favourite poem or story or song to share in a relaxed setting.

2.30pm                        Little Miss Rathmullan& Prince Charming

                                    Held at Resource Centre €3 per child.

8pm:                            Parade of floats led by RameltonTown Band

 

OFFICIAl OPENING

Street Entertainment:

8.30 – 10.30pm:          Copperhead, classic Rock and Blues Band

Sat 3^rdAug

11am onwards:           Lough Swilly Yacht Club: Keel Boat Racing on the Swilly – see www.loughswillyyc.com for details.

11am                           Junior Soccer at Flagpole Field

1pm–3pm                   Inflatable Fun at Flagpole field

                                    Entry €3 per child

1pm                             Annual Denis Sheridan 5 A-side Memorial Cup

                                    All teams must have 1 female and 1 over 40 male on the pitch at all times

1 – 4pm                       Tea Stop in Resource Centre – Teas €3

1-5pm                         “Watersports for All” presented by Rathmullan The Way Forward in conjunction with Rathmullan Sailing Club, Eco Atlantic Adventures and Adventure One and funded byCapiten, Interreg, Atlantic Area.  There will be music, refreshments in marquee for all participants.  Enquiries to 083-8691409.

 3.30pm                        Afternoon of sport & fun for all ages at soccer pitch.

STREET MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT

4.30–6.30pm               The Family Band

7pm – 9pm                 Paul Ward and the Humble Earthworm

11pm                           Icebreakers

Sun 4^th Aug

12 noon                       Putting Competition, The Jim (Slim ) McLaughlin Memorial –  registration at Putting Green.

12 noon onwards:       Lough Swilly Yacht Club: Keel Boat Racing on the Swilly – see www.loughswillyyc.com for details.

12 noon                       Dan Joe’s Memorial Dinghy Race, enquiries to 083-8691409

1pm                             2^nd Annual Scruffs Dog Show in the grounds of the battery.  In aid ofSmall

Animal Welfare.  Entry €10.  Enquiries to 083-8691409.

                                    Registration from 1pm – show starts at 2pm.

 

1.30 – 2.30pm             Sandcastle & Sculpture Competition

                                    Registration at Festival Office, €2 per child

                                    Bring your own buckets and spades etc.

STREET MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT

1pm – 2.30pm             Local Artists:  The Sheridan Family Band, Mark Boyce, Mick Russell & Luke Kelly.

3pm – 5pm                 Brendan Quinn and the Kicking Mules

5.30pm – 7.30pm       Goats Don’t Shav

8pm – 10pm               Rapparees

10pm – 11pm             Conleith McGeary

11pm                           Whistling Donkeys

Monday 5^thAug  Regatta Day

12 noon onwards:       Lough Swilly Yacht Club: Keel Boat Racing on the Swilly – see www.loughswillyyc.com for details/

3pm                             Annual Parade of Boats from the Kinnegar Buoy to the Pier.  With RNLI and Rescue Helicopter in attendance (schedule permitting)

                                    Detailed instructions will be available for skippers

 

3pm                             Fancy Dress, registration at Putting green

 3-5pm                         Trevor Loughrey– Country Favourite on stage

                                    Sponsored by Rathmullan Community Festival Committee

3.30p                           Caledonian Pipe Band

5pm                             Rathmullan Sailing &Watersports Club Annual reception for boat owners and invited guests.

6-8pm                         Street music by Eldorado.

 

Lets make it a date:

 

24^th – 25^th Aug:            Lough Swilly Sea Angling Festival

                                    Sat 24^th – Junior Competition only

                                    Sun 25^th  – Tope & Whitefish with a leg of the Ulster League included.

Entries/enquiries to Angela Crerand by Wed 14^th please as places are limited,    Tel: 087-2480132

 

24^th Aug:                      12 noon – Inch Mile Charity Swim – Inch to Rathmullan

                                    All proceeds to RNLI and Sheephaven Sub Aqua

                                   

31^stAug:           The Rat Race – Rathmullan Adventure Race

28k Original:

5k Run, 1.2k Kayak, 20k cycle and 0.8k run to finish

Tel: Liam on 087-6236339