Regenerating Athy and Rhyl

Athy Water Festival 2004

“ALL HANDS ON DECK”

What promises to be the biggest and best ever Water Festival to be held in Athy is scheduled to take place over the weekend of 28th to 30th May 2004.

The festival is being organised by the North Barrow Branch of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI). The IWAI are currently celebrating the 50 th anniversary since their foundation in 1954.

In keeping with the principle of a “water” festival the emphasis this year will be on facilitating as many of the people of Athy and our visitors as possible to participate in water-based activities. Seeing the town from the water whether from the River Barrow or the Grand Canal provides a unique perspective on the many attractions of Athy.

For the energetic this may be by way of pedal boat, rowing boat, canoe or raft and some of these craft will be available to hire. The less able bodied might like to partake of a leisurely cruise on the 50-passenger “The Princess Marcel” cruiser that will be joining us from Robertstown. This vessel formerly ferried passengers around the canals of Amsterdam.

In addition to the 30 or so boats being expected to moor in the town during the Athy Water Festival there are some very exciting land-based activities.

The area in the vicinity of the Courthouse and Library will be closed to traffic for the duration of the Athy Water Festival. This area will house an International Craft Fair with stalls from all over Ireland, England and France. The Athy Water Festival also plays host to a French Food Market that will have over 30 stalls of assorted food and wines. If you missed their previous appearances in Kilkenny and Portlaoise this is one of the last opportunities to enjoy this superb demonstration of French culinary skills in this country before it returns to France.

There will also be a vintage theme to the Athy Water Festival with a Viking village re-enactment being set up in the grounds of the Abbey adjoining Courthouse Square. There will also be every type of vintage vehicle in attendance from motorbikes to army tanks.

Other water-based events will include a rowing regatta being organised by Paul Carroll of Athy Rowing Club, a community teams raft race for the Bertie Kiernan memorial trophy and a boat blessing ceremony.

The chairman of the Athy Water Festival, a sub-committee of the IWAI North Barrow branch is Barry Keatley and the commodore for this year's festival will be Pete Conlan. The Athy Water Festival sub-committee are extremely grateful to the support that they have received from other organisations and businesses in Athy and in particular to Athy Civil Defence.

We welcome everyone in Athy and adjoining areas along with their friends and relations to come and help us “make a splash”.

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Vivian Cummins PRO