Tag: Kinvara Carnival

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Kinvara Carnival – 1961

Posted on by The Burren and Beyond

Connacht Tribune 1st July, 1961
On Sunday Carnival time, despite the rain, opened in Kinvara.
Some fifty years ago Lady Gregory wrote her patriotic little masterpiece, “The Rising of the Moon,” with a setting on Kinvara Quay. On Sunday the Kinvara Dramatic Society, under producer Mr. Thomas Donnellan, N.T. staged her drama, somewhat adapted for the purpose, in its natural setting.
The actors lived up to the occasion from the moment “Sergeant” (Tom Johnston) opened his colloquy with the “Sign-painter” (Paddy J. Keane). The body of the play where Kieran Moylan, in the role of the Ballad-singer, gradually awakens the dormant patriotism in the Sergeant’s heart was very well done.
Eire (Miss Mary Moylan) then comes to the Quay accompanied by her four green fields. Connacht (Miss Patsy Huban), Leinster (Miss Maura Byrne). Munster (Miss Nell Fahy) and Ulster (Miss Roisin Moylan). The patriot leader recites “My Dark Rosaleen” in her honour and places a crown on her head following which she recites “My Four Green Fields,” by Lady Gregory, and each of her handmaidens take up place by her side while the St. Patrick’s Band, Galway, which had played appropriate music all through, renders a triumphal march and the national flag is hoisted.

The Fancy Dress Parade
The rain was again a spoilsport for the Fancy Dress Parade where remarkable inventiveness was shown in a large entry which gave the judges, Mr. M. McDonagh, Ballinderreen and Mr. M. Dolan (Ardrahan) plenty to ponder over.
Several Eichmans passed by together with “John Caldwell,”, “The June Bride Turned November Wife,” a “Space Flight” trio, the “Final touches to Kinvara Pitch,” “Rainier, Grace and Family,” “Irish Stew for Princess Grace,””Raftery,” “Hikers for the Kinvara Hostel,” “Latest Fashions,””Kennedy Back From Vienna,” “Grace’s Biggest Thrill,””Looney,” the “Poteen Maker,” “First Aid and Last Aid,” “Lady Gregory as the Unexpected Guest”, at last Saturday’s meeting in Coole, the “Baluba,”, the “Mexican Pair,” “Capt.Ringrose” together with an assortment of other topical figures.

The prizewinners were;
Most Humorous;
1. “Poteen Maker” – Sheila Nolan
2. “Biggest Thrill” – Gertrude Keane

Most Topical;
1. “Final Touches to Kinvara Pitch” – Michael and Finbar Brogan
2. “Another Victim of Eichman” – Thomas Nolan

Prettiest;
1. “Mexican Pair” – Francis and Mary Greene
2. “First Aid and Last Aid” – Kieran Doyle and Maura Doyle

SENIOR SECTION
1. “Space Crew” – Michael Connolly, Thomas Tannian and Joe Forde
2. “The Unexpected Guest – Lady Gregory” – Brid Gleeson
3. “Setanta comes to Faitche Padraig” – Michael McMahon

Most Humorous;
1. “The Baluba” – Sean Nolan
2. “Kennedy Back from Vienna” – Martin Greene
3. “June Bride and November Wife” – Anne Morris and Christina Deely.

THE MAYORAL ADDRESS
Mr. Ml. Leech, Mayor of the Festival, welcomed all and urged the younger folks to bring the old people to see the festivities. He also urged all bachelors and their fiancees to visit his “marriage bureau” where he would advise on all premarital problems.
Following the festivities at the Quay the competitors paraded behind St. Patrick’s Band to the Dancing Marquee where the prizes were presented by the Pageant Queen, Miss Mary Moylan, and the competitors entertained to tea.

The Carnival which lasts for three weeks is in aid of the new 3,500 Gaelic Pitch in Kinvara which will be formally opened on the concluding day, July 16th.

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Kinvara Carnival – 1959

Posted on by The Burren and Beyond

Connacht Tribune 27th June, 1959 p.25 (abridged)

The Queen of the Carnival at Kinvara with two attending ladies left to right Miss Concepta Callanan, Caherglissane, Miss Kathleen Forde, Ballybuck (Queen) and Miss Annie Nolan, Crushoa. Connacht Tribune 1959
The Queen of the Carnival at Kinvara with two attending ladies left to right Miss Concepta Callanan, Caherglissane, Miss Kathleen Forde, Ballybuck (Queen) and Miss Annie Nolan, Crushoa.
Connacht Tribune 1959

Sunday evening was Carnival Evening in Kinvara, when large crowds, including many visitors, watched the Fancy Dress Parade and the Crowning of the Queen of the Carnival. The town was en fete, decorated with flags and bunting. The Carnival is run jointly by the Kinvara Guild of Muintír na Tíre and the Kinvara Club G.A.A., one of its principal objects being the development of the G.A.A. pitch recently purchased. There were over two hundred competitors in the Fancy Dress Parade.

The Parade Marshall rode in front on horseback, followed by the Tulla Pipers’ Band. There were at least three “Tom Dooleys.” “Mr. de Valera” passed by holding out a pair of boots with the caption, “Who’ll fill Dev’s boots now?”.  A boy and girl festooned with authentic exam papers, bore a card calling for the abolition of the Primary Cert; “Padraig O’Conaire” drove by on his ass and card; “Liberace” escorted his “Mum.” There were several editions of the Dalai Lama, Billy the Blacksmith was a “Museum Piece,” a tiny pair with costumes made up of the “Noughts and Crosses,” portrayed the “Referendum on P.R.”.

Others included – “The Queen of the Shear”; “Christy Ring”;”No Council Houses for Kinvara”; a “Sultan”; the “Four Seasons”; the “Latest Fashions”, including Onion Line, Sack Line, Balloon Line and 1960 Line; the “Result of the Bantry Explosion.” The magnificent Puck Goat drawing a tiny car and driver was  among the cowboys and other foreign gents in fancy costumes.

At the quayside the Mayor of Kinvara, Mr. Michael Leech, and his aide de camps awaited the State Coach bearing the Royal Party. The “messenger” riding a penny farthing bicycle, arrived to announce to the M.C., Mr Tom Donnellan, the election of the Queen and her imminent arrival.

The election of Miss Kathleen Forde of Ballybuck, Kinvara, was greeted with acclamation. She arrived in her coach, attended by her four ladies in waiting, the Misses Annie Nolan of Crushoa, Concepta Callanan of Caherglissane, Rosemary Silke and Mary Keane of Kinvara .Having welcomed all visitors the Mayor took the crown from the hands of the “Court Equerry,” Kieran Moylan and crowned Kathleen I.  The new Queen, in her “Coronation Speech”, promised that all taxes would at once be doubled but would be payable to the Royal Treasury for such worthy projects as the repair of the roads around Kinvara and the extension of the fishing limit to twelve miles.