Gearing up for The Gathering in Conna

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Gearing up for The Gathering in Conna

A sub-committee of Conna Community Council have been working hard over the last number of months putting opportunity a programme of events to mark The Gathering.

Thursday, 11 April 2013
9:00 AM GMT



A sub-committee of Conna Community Council have been working hard over the last number of months putting opportunity a programme of events to mark The Gathering.

After giving the matter a good deal of consideration it was decided this State initiative presented the people of Conna with an opportunity to incorporate a community festival into The Gathering concept. The end result is an elaborate menu of activities that will take place over the Bank Holiday weekend in August (1-5).

Speaking at last Monday night's launch in Conna Community Centre, Conna Community Gathering chairman, Gerard O'Mahony said The Gathering festival had the potential to mobilize community groups in Conna and generate a feel good factor that was vital in these difficult times. His colleague and Conna Community Gathering sub committee secretary, William Kearney, echoed this sentiment.

"This is an event for visitors and locals alike, the feedback to date has been very encouraging and we feel the weekend has great potential, we've done our best to make the programme of events as inclusive as possible and if everything falls into place it should be a great occasion," William said.

The launch was told that a number of families from the USA and Canada had already committed to attending and many more are expected to confirm their participation in the weeks and months ahead. The centrepiece of The Conna Community Gathering will be a parade through the village led by the Castlelyons Pipe Band, 3 prominent grand marshals (Tom Cotter, Dick Morrison and Jane Mangan) have already been signed up.

Street entertainment, open air music, dancing, story telling, various sports events, historical tours, vintage display, craft workshops, family tree information and street tug-of-war are just some of the attractions.

Conna Community Gathering committee is especially grateful to Cork County Council for supporting their Gathering festival and any individual or business in a position to provide any form of sponsorship would be most welcome. There will be a lot more details to follow in the weeks ahead but for now the message is a spectacular Gathering is planned for Conna and it goes ahead, rain or shine on August Bank Holiday weekend.



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