Fermoy will be the destination of choice for fun lovers this weekend as the town’s Gathering festival weekend takes place. In organising the event, the Avondhu Tourism Association and Fermoy Business Action Group have managed to put together a programme that leaves no age or sector out when it comes to entertainment.

All are warmly welcomed along to the official launch by the town mayor, Olive Corcoran in Adair Hall this Friday evening at 7.30pm. It will be followed by a Comhaltas seisiún in the hall with refreshments served. Charlie Macs are hosting an Irish night from 9pm also on Friday night, with Irish food and music while the Fermoy tag rugby barbecue gets under way from 9.30pm at The Forge.

River cruises will operate all weekend offering an opportunity to anyone who hasn’t already enjoyed the thoroughly pleasant experience of cruising the river and seeing Barnane and other parts of town from the vantage point of the river to do so. Bookings can be made by calling 089-4135120.

A talk on the history of Fermoy in the library at 11am will kick off events on Saturday. That’s followed by a historic bus tour of the Blackwater Valley which will take in Fermoy, Ballyhooly, Castletownroche, Kilavullen and return south of the river. Christy Roche is the knowledgeable guide. It costs just €5 euro and can be pre-booked at Hickey’s Drapers, Patrick Street.

A mystery history bus tour with guide Ian Fleming can also be booked at Hickey’s. The cost is the same. It’ll take place from 4.00 to 5.45pm on Saturday. All the while an old time traditional fun fair will operate in Fermoy Town Park courtesy of the Williams family.

‘Alan & The Accident’ will perform on the street from 3.30 to 5pm and pub entertainment will feature nightly, including live music.

The highlight of the festival for children comes on Sunday with the second annual Teddy Bears Picnic being held in the town park. People are advised to bring along their rainwear as expected showers won’t be allowed to interfere with the fun! Children are asked to assemble at Market Square on Sunday afternoon for 12.45 to be led by a piper across the bridge to the park. A new and very important addition to those proceedings this year is a Teddy Bears Hospital where children can bring their broken and ripped bears to be repaired and stitched up again, as good as new. There’s prizes for the first, second and third best teddy on the day, so children are encouraged to dress up their teddy for their grand outing!

A special stall offering Gathering momentoes such as t-shirts, mugs, etc., will feature among the other market stalls in the town park on Sunday afternoon. There’ll be a karate club and kick boxing club demonstrations during the afternoon; the fire brigade and gardai will be there to also give demonstrations; Comhaltas Fermoy will offer music workshops, magician extraordinaire Paul Dee has been lined up to entertain children and big kids too and there’s a disco to finish up the proceedings.

Noel McCarthy, chairman of the Fermoy Business Action Group and Ian Fleming of Avondhu Tourism Association are extending an invitation to all to make their way to Fermoy this weekend and enjoy some or all of the events. They wish to thank everyone who has helped in organising what is, by all accounts, a considerable undertaking. It’s the first time the two groups have collaborated on a project.

Noel paid tribute to the Tourism Association and said the business group look forward to partnering with them for future initiatives. Of the coming weekend he said: “It’s the principal Gathering event in Fermoy, a lot of work has gone into it and we’re now looking forward to it being a great success.”