Ardmore, Co Waterford will be the place to be on the last weekend in July (Friday 27th – Sunday 29th July 2007) for the Ardmore Pattern Festival. The village will host a fun-packed weekend of entertainment and activities for all the family. Amongst the activities planned are underage GAA blitzes, fun golf, home-made fancy dress competition, sandcastle competition, duck races, street games, storytelling, pool tournament, small boats competition, exhibition of old photos, kiddies disco, choral recital and dance exhibitions.

Two of the main events during the weekend will be a Busking Competition for children under 14, which will take place on the Main Street on Sunday afternoon, as well as an open air concert with ‘The Paddies’ at the GAA pitch on Sunday night. In addition to the daytime activities and entertainment, the local pubs will also provide various musical entertainment each night over the weekend. A full list of the activities will be made available in the week running up to the big event.

This inaugural Pattern Festival is being organised in an attempt to revive the Pattern of St. Declan of Ardmore, which used to be a major event in the social calendar in years gone by. St. Declan, the patron saint of Ardmore, is credited with bringing Cristianity to the area and devotees still visit his Holy Well and burial place in the shadow of Ardmore’s famous Round Tower. St. Declan’s Day falls on the 24th July each year, and is still commemorated by doing the ‘Rounds’ while saying the Rosary at the Holy Well. This year’s Pattern Weekend activities will kick off with a Procession through the village, followed by a prayer service and talk on the life of St. Declan. The local Walking Group will also walk part of the ‘St. Declan’s Way’ walk during the weekend in memory of the Patron Saint.

A hardworking committee comprising Amanda Hosford-Mansfield, Patricia Quirke, Martha Tierney, Mary Jo Keevers, John Supple, Maurice Power and Olan Geaney have been busy over the last number of weeks putting a fun-packed weekend of activities together. The committee would like to thank all the local groups, organisations and individuals who have come out in force to make this happen. It has been a great effort by everyone involved so far, to ensure a packed weekend of activities, with something to suit everyone. Like every festival, this one will take money to make it happen, and sponsorship would be greatly appreciated and needed to help secure all the events planned. Special thanks to everyone who has already pledged sponsorship to date.

This is just a preview of what’s in store in Ardmore on the last weekend in July, and here’s hoping that St. Declan will shine on us weather-wise to make it one to remember!