STRAWBERRY FAIR’S PLEA

Committee appeals for more volunteers ahead of 50th anniversary

FEARS that Enniscorthy is in danger of losing the iconic Strawberry Fair have been quashed.

Doubts over the future of the Fair were raised last week after an impassioned plea for more committee members.

Chairman Cyril Wheelock said the festival committee is currently made up of just three people and called on more people to get involved in the festival planning particularly in light of the festival’s 50th anniversary next year.

However Mr Wheelock denied the festival was in any danger and said the small committee get exceptional help from people in the community.

‘I wouldn’t say we are in any bother. We had 260 at the Strawberry Ball last week and it was a major success. We just want to make people aware of how small the committee now is and maybe they might like to come on board. We get great help from various people and groups and without this the festival couldn’t go ahead.

‘People are shocked when they hear how small the committee is and that’s why we want to get more people involved in the committee. But there’s no question of the festival not going ahead next year. It’s our 50th anniversary so we want to make it special.’

However this year’s fair has come under fire from some local people who felt there was very little family entertainment throughout the weekend and said that with the exception of the Strawberry Roots and the All Ireland Farmers Market there was very little to the weekend. The lack on a bandstand in the Market Square was also criticised.

The annual general meeting of the Strawberry Fair will take place on July 25.