This year’s Festival of Finn in the beautiful village of Corofin will take place over the May bank holiday weekend and will feature children’s activities, the ever-popular stone-throwing competition, even a superhero parade!
Events get underway on Thursday, May 2, with a very special history talk by Kevin Callinan, Forsa General Secretary and former president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. Kevin, whose father Patrick hailed from Corofin, will be discussing ‘The Irish Experience of Immigration.’ This promises to be a very special evening, sponsored by Cumann Staire is Duchais Chora Finne. The free talk begins at 8:30 p.m., and is preceded by a cheese and wine reception starting at 7:45 p.m. at the Corofin Community Hall.
Music abounds throughout the weekend, starting on Friday, May 3, when the ska band Skazz performs their up-tempo, danceable music at Bofey Quinn’s beer garden starting at 6 p.m. Later on that evening at 9 p.m., Micheal Sexton will have folks kicking up their heels at a social dance set for the Corofin Community Hall.
The music continues on Saturday, May 4, at 4 p.m., at the beer garden in O’Riain’s Bar, where one of the best young area bands, Cahercalla Rebellion, will perform. Free, and weather permitting. The music continues on Sunday when folk duo Trevor Sexton and Ger O’Donnell perform at Teach Ceoil at 8 p.m. This promises to be a wonderful concert. Tickets are €20 and available on Eventbrite.
Children and families will be entertained throughout the weekend, with a number of events just for them. On Saturday, May 4, at noon, the ever-popular car treasure hunt will kick off at the Corofin Community Hall at noon, with prizes for the first three winners! Children can tap into their creativity with a free paper puppet-making workshop at the Morning Dew Café starting at 2 p.m. that day.
Tony Baloney and Leroy will entertain children with magic, comedy and more on Sunday, May 5, at 12 noon at the GAA Club. At 2 p.m., help Nada at the Morning Dew Café build ‘Cinnaman and his sidekick Decaf’ for the annual parade the following day.
Speaking of that parade, get ready to dress up as your favorite superhero or supervillain and strut your stuff through the village. The annual Fancy Dress Parade begins from the community hall at 12:30p.m. sharp on Monday, May 6, and you don’t want to miss it! Of course, the Lark at the Lake is back Monday afternoon at 2 p.m., with games galore, the animal roadshow, open air music, the popular dog show, horseshoe throwing competition and bbq. So head down to Lake Inchiquin and have a wonderful afternoon. €5 entry
Other events include
*A free presentation on the flora and fauna of the Burren takes place at the Morning Dew Café on Friday May 3 at 3 p.m. with Phoebe Larkin of the Burren National Park
*A Burren ramble with guide Marie McGauran takes place Saturday, May 4 at 10:30 a.m. Meet at the Corofin Community Hall. €10 per person
*Calling all trivia fans to the annual and much-anticipated Salmon of Knowledge Table Quiz, which gets underway on Saturday, May 4, at 9 p.m. at Mike Hogan’s Bar. €40 for a team of four, and guaranteed craic! Part of the proceeds to benefit James Organ’s Meningitis Foundation fundraiser.
*The popular Festival Village Market begins the day on Sunday, May 5. There will be something for everyone, so head to the Corofin Community Hall at 10 a.m.
*What better way for family and friends to enjoy Sunday afternoon than with a game of Frisbee Golf. Head to the community hall field at 1 p.m. and enjoy!
*The 23rd annual World Stone Throwing Championships tests the mettle of all comers at the Bofey Quinn beer garden starting at 4 p.m. on Sunday. You won’t want to miss this one. This year the ‘hang tough’ competition takes place at O’Riain’s beer garden starting at 3 p.m.
*A guided walk is set for Monday, May 6 at 9:45 a.m. along the shores of Lake Inchiquin, taking in the grounds of Clifden House and Baunkyle House. Meet walk leader Brendan McGrath at the grotto. Cost €10 per person
*Ann Marie Flanagan will present a reading from the book she edited, ‘We are Human Too’, which celebrates disability activists. It will take place at the Corofin Community Hall at 1:30 p.m. on May 6. Co-produced by the Clare Leadership Forum.
*T-shirts and even red Finn MacCool beards will be available before and during the festival at The Morning Dew Café and other locations. Become a fashion statement!
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