The 10th Annual Roscommon Lamb Festival will be officially opened tomorrow at 11:30am by the President of the IFA Joe Healy.
As usual the Roscommon Lamb Festival has something for everyone to do over six days and multiple locations. From Designer Crafts to Sheep Dog Trials and everything in between there is a packed programme scheduled in Roscommon town and surrounding areas.
Wednesday’s opening ceremony will take place at Roscommon Mart and will be followed by the Oliver Burke Memorial presentation. In addition there’s a Special Sheep Sale and more. Also on Wednesday is an exhibition in the County Library celebrating the wealth of the geological heritage of County Roscommon. At 8pm St. Coman’s Church of Ireland is the venue for an ecumenical service of thanksgiving for, and blessing on, the flocks of sheep of the county.
On Thursday a Conference on the Limestone Heritage of Roscommon will commence with a lecture by renowned author and lecturer, Dr John Feehan, described by Michael Viney as ‘one of Ireland’s top ecologists and communicators of nature’. It will commence in the County Library at 10am and continuing with field trips to a number of sites of interest. Registration necessary, call 087 6546512.
Roscommon County Youth Theatre play out Orwell’s mordant fable of a revolution betrayed on the Roscommon Arts Centre stage on Thursday, Friday and Saturday – details here
On Friday a Special Farmers Market and the Local Enterprise Craft Marquee will open at 10am. That evening Roscommon native and multi-award winning designer Úna Burke will officially open an exhibition by Emerging Artists and Designers at Aras an Chontae (Roscommon County Counchil HQ). It will open from 7pm – 9pm on Friday and from 10am to 7pm on Saturday. On Friday night South Roscommon Singers Circle will host a “Lamb Jam” session with the King Street Bluegrass Band from Virginia, U.S.A., in Murray’s, Knockcroghery from 9pm.
The exhibitions continue on Saturday and there’s guide walks of both Roscommon town and Rindoon at 11am. Market Square is the place to be on Saturday evening for Street Party, which is set to begin at 4pm. There will be street performers, food stalls and live music concert with King Street Bluegrass Band from Virginia, USA. A tribute to Geraldo Marques aka ‘Toko’ will be part of this evening and will include a Brazilian BBQ, the proceeds of which will go to the Mayo Roscommon Hospice.
There’s an early start on Sunday with the International Sheep Dog Trials in Walsh’s Field, Castlerea Road from 9am and the Wool Merchants Cup & 9 hole Ladies Golf Competitions at 10am.
Loughnaneane Park is the venue for a Family Fun Day from 2pm. It promises to be a great day out with something for all the family! Children’s amusements, Climbing Wall, FAI soccer skills competition, Pet Lambs/Bo Peep/Boy Blue Competitions, Food stalls, Sheep Racing, Live Music with Billy Garvin, Pony Rides, Archery, Craft Demos, Display of Rare Sheep Breeds, Sheep Shearing, and lots lots more!
The Kepak All-Ireland Sheep Shearing and Wool Handling Championships to be launched in the Market Square at 7pm – full details here. Round off the day with the Festival Ceili in Hannon’s Hotel at 9:30pm. Music by the Glenside Céilí Band.
The action concludes on Monday with the Family Carers Ireland Mini Marathon from Hannon’s Hotel at 3pm. There will be a 10k and a 5k Run Routes. Great prizes will be on offer in both the Women’s and Men’s categories. The Entry Fee €15 and for more details contact 086 809 9494.
The above is just a flavour of what is on offer, click here to Download the Roscommon Lamb Festival Event Guide for full details.