PICTURES: Laois school hosts hugely successful first ever school fair

There was a great buzz around Clonaghadoo National School on Saturday, September 12, as the Parents’ Council held its first ever school fair on the school grounds.

It was a wonderful day for the Laois school and the wider community, with families, friends and local supporters turning out to enjoy an afternoon packed with entertainment, music, stalls, competitions and, of course, plenty of delicious home baking.

One of the main attractions of the day was the scarecrow competition, which certainly brought out the imagination and creativity of those taking part. The judges, well-known Offaly musician John Brady and George Furey of the Furey’s, had a particularly difficult job on their hands, with an impressive array of scarecrows to choose from.

Among the entries were whimsical witches, robots, builders and Star Wars characters, as well as a farmer complete with his chicken. There was even a very recognisable Dolly Parton making an appearance!

Taking first place and the €100 prize were Lynn Leavy, Clodagh and Thea with their entry, “Bee’Dazzled.” Second place and €25 went to AJ and Billy Holom for their scarecrow, “That Will Do Chick.” Taking third place and €25 was Sofie Fitzpatrick with her entry, “Maggie May.”

Congratulations to all three winners, and indeed to everyone who entered. The standard was extremely high, making the judges’ task far from easy.

Another talking point throughout the afternoon was the opportunity to guess the name of one of the fair’s adorable Pygmy kid goats. However, those hoping to discover the winning name will have to wait a little longer, as the Parents’ Council are keeping the goat’s name under wraps!

Music was another big part of the afternoon, with performances from talented students, both past and present, and even relatives adding greatly to the atmosphere.

As the afternoon drew to a close, the entertainment continued with George Furey and John Brady taking to the stage themselves, providing live music and bringing a great day to a fitting finish.

The first Clonaghadoo NS school fair was a tremendous success and a real credit to the Parents’ Council, whose hard work and organisation helped make the event such an enjoyable occasion.

“Most importantly, the day brought the school and wider community together, with plenty of laughter, music and good company along the way. If the success of this year’s inaugural event is anything to go by, the Clonaghadoo school fair may well become a much-anticipated fixture on the local calendar for years to come,” said the organisers.