Annual Boat Rally on Offaly canal was one of the biggest for many years

FRIDAY saw 86 boats and over 200 people attending the Annual Inland Waterways Association of Ireland Rally in Shannon Harbour.

It was the largest festival for many a long year resulting from the marvellous work of the committee, Chairman and Treasurer Daniel Brislane, Secretary Ian Skelton, Commodore Dara O Cionnaith, Siobhan Connon, members Angela Downs, Brian Downes, Cathy Goulding, John Connon, Linda Molloy and helpers.

The amount and quality of food was very sophisticated. Angela Downs baked the lovely brown bread, Siobhan and Cathy did the wine and cheese, Ian the hot food, Cathy Goulding the excellent brochure, Linda Molloy organised the facebook group. The two lovely ladies from David Smith catering provided the hot food for the barbecue on Saturday evening. I shared a table with Peter and Sheila Grennan and Ann O'Sullivan and Evan Connon. Sean O'Reilly and family worked very well as did Sue and Pairic O'Brollachan. Fr Pat blessed the boats.

The electricity failed before the opening on Friday night, nobody had a shilling for the meter! Luckily Darren Joyce from The Harbourmaster's House performed magical adjustments to the errant technology. John Fitzgerald, chair of IWAI, thanked the committee and helpers for their sterling efforts. Like many of the boaters he had his first rally as a youngster in 1971. The articulate and witty James Scully attended with his very popular Martello Tower Pop up Bookshop. James urgently needs a second hand mobile library for his books to expand his service.

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Donal Boland, Joe Tracy, Dave Saunders, Eibhlin Smith and Linda Hederman launched The Heritage Boat group. The Heritage Council deal with fixed structures. They did a course with the Council and persuaded them that the Heritage Boats are mobile sites preserving the knowledge of boaters and are a living archive. A great achievement.

The Bolinder Engine group attracted lots of attention with their live display of early boat engines. The Commodore Dara O Cionnath’s boat was originally the steam ship Fox built in !865. In 2023 Dara met with Damien Buckley who guided him in the large project of restoration to be completed by the summer. A marvellous job.

Chairman Danial Brislane thanked the committee and helpers and volunteers for their valiant efforts in making this the most successful Rally for a very long time. He also presided over a water game which involved teams of five blindfolded contestants passing toy buckets of water over their heads and pouring it into the bucket of the person behind them. The winner was the one that had the most water in a large bucket. Flying water, soakings, craic and hilarity wound up the games afternoon.

As usual McIntyre’s Pub and their staff were very helpful and provided great service. Music by The Booze Brothers Ray and Alan. The Canal bar provided great service, music and very helpful staff from Hough’s pub in Banagher. The festival was a very sophisticated, smooth, professional operation. Very impressive.

Garden Competition: 1^st, Ava Boland, boat, Cararal ; 7 to 10: Emma, Isabella; Girls 12-14 Noase, Cara, Robyn, Urmit ; 10 to 12 boys: John Connon, Clodie Connon; Adult Quiz, Beckers, Chang Sha: Best dressed Table; Nousa O Brollachan: Talent Competition Adult; June: Children 1^st Harvey, 2^nd joint Christopher and Cara, 3^rd John: Women's welly throwing: 1^st Angela Downs Xanadu, 2^nd Aisha Brislane Gallifray: Men's welly throwing; 1^st Cormac, 2^nd Taylor Williams: Under 12; Ivan Harvey, Hawthorn. 2^nd Clorlotte, Panga: Women's line heaving; 1^st Shirley, 2^nd Linda: Men's; 1^st Ian Skelton, 2^nd Ivan Mullins: Kids; Ava, Harry: Horse shoe Comp. Women's; Sandra Gobacino: Men's; Conor Nolan 118b: Horse shoe; Child; Keelan 67m: Mischief Cup; Team Ron: Endeavour award; Darren Joyce The Harbourmaster's House: Anniversary Trophy, new award; Ian and Chandra: Carolan Cup; Harvey; Best Newcomer Cup; Fergus.

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Thanks to sponsors; McIntyre's Pub, Shannon Harbour; The Canal Bar, Shannon Harbour; Essential Materials, Breedon; Apex Geophysics; PMCE Ltd Dublin 6w; Lisnabrin Co. Cork, P67YH39 ; Quarryplan, Info @ quarryplan.co.uk; bhsm Dublin. 01440 8300; Cloondavoun Marina, Lough Derg ; Sextons Supervalu, Main St. Banagher; Banagher precast concrete, info@bancrete.com; Carrickcraft, Banagher. www.carrickcraft.com; Quarry consulting, Mayo. pkinghan@QuarryConsulting.ie; Grants Farm Machinery, Coolfin, Banagher. Mob 0872505038 ; Silverline Cruisers, Banagher. Silverlinecruisers.com ; The Harbourmasters House, Shannon Harbour. theharbourmasterhouse@gmail.com ; Hills Hire, Cabinteely. www.HILLSHIRE.ie