Any fun-loving person worth their salt, will have the weekend of July 26 already pencilled in for Fermoy when the town will be en fete for its very own, dedicated Gathering event.

And the focus really is on fun, with plenty of activities and entertainment for all ages. After being officially opened by Mayor Olive Corcoran at Adair Hall on the Friday evening at 7.30pm, the event will get off to a lively start with music at the hall by the Fermoy Comhaltas group. Refreshments will be available.

That’s followed by an Irish night at Charlie Mac’s in MacCurtain Street where Irish food will also be served. The Fermoy Tag Rugby Barbecue will take place at the same time in The Forge, on the Cork road. Throughout Friday there’ll be cruises on the river, and that’ll continue on Saturday and Sunday as well. The 90-minute round trips from the Fermoy Rowing Club slipway at Ashe Quay to Castlehyde and back will cost just €5 per person.

A talk on the history of Fermoy in the library will get the proceedings underway on the Saturday at 11am. That’s followed by a historic bus tour of the Blackwater valley, beginning around the town and taking in Ballyhooly, Castletownroche, Killavullen and returning south of the river. Christy Roche will be the guide. The cost for that is again just €5. It can be booked through Hickey’s on Patrick Street. Ian Fleming will act as guide for another historic bus tour in the afternoon – a ‘mystery-history’ tour this time. It takes place from 4pm to 5.45pm. The price is the same and bookings will again be taken at Hickey’s.

An old time traditional fun fair will add to the gaiety, operating on Saturday and Sunday in the town park. ‘Alan & The Accident’ will provide the music in the town on Saturday afternoon from 3.30pm while pub entertainment, including live music, will feature nightly.

The highlight for children will undoubtedly be the Teddy Bears Picnic on the Sunday afternoon in the town park. A range of other events will take place alongside, there’ll be music and a children’s disco as well as craft stalls, fast food outlets and various exhibitions and demonstrations by local groups and clubs.

Plenty of reasons then to gather in Fermoy on the weekend of July 26 and make it a Gathering event to remember.