Queen of the Castle festival to take place in Cahir this Bank Holiday weekend

This Bank Holiday weekend Rathkeevin Macra celebrates its 65 anniversary with the inaugural Queen of the Castle festival in Cahir.

The festival programme includes a family fun day, music, comedy, food, and entertainment.

There is a jam-packed schedule of events to suit all tastes, including music from bands such as The Bentley Boys; Supersoul Machine; After Eden; the Loose Cannons; The Replacements and The Lonergans.

There will also be yoga, a dance workshop, karaoke, a scouts' demo, archery, and kayaking.

Comhairle na nÓg will hold a colour run for health and wellbeing as part of the community carnival on Sunday from 1-4 pm in Inch field. A window display competition for local businesses will also take place over the weekend.

The queens’ competition is a nod to the former Queen of the Fair that took place in the town for many years.

Organising committee chairperson and treasurer of Rathkeevin Macra Anita Lonergan Casey says that these festival queens were selected in March and April by their own region and 18 queens representing some of the 31 Macra regions will compete in a bid to be crowned the inaugural Queen of the Castle at midnight following the coronation banquet on Sunday, August 4 with dancing until late with music by Supersoul Machine, followed by a DJ.

The winning queen will be selected by the festival's three judges – former Rose of Tralee, Brenda Hyland; local business owner, Lara Slattery; and a mystery adjudicator – who will mark the contestants.

The winner will be announced at midnight on Sunday night/Monday morning and will be presented with a cash prize of
€750, the Queen of the Castle perpetual cup, the winner's tiara, and Dalton's of Cahir haulage services Queen of the Castle 2024 winner's sash.

A hectic social diary will follow, with numerous public appearances and interviews over the next year.

The runner-up will receive €500, while the queen placed third will receive €250.

The organising committee is made up of present and past members of Rathkeevin Macra. They say a big thank you to Councillor Andy Moloney and Tipperary County Council for their support and to their main sponsor, Dalton's Haulage of Cahir as well as all the other businesses of Cahir that have supported them to make this festival a success.

All are welcome and tickets for the festival are available through Eventbrite.