7 Things to t do this week...
1 SOUTH EAST COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL: The festival will take place outdoors on the site of Bannow Rathangan show in Killag on Sunday, August 21 with stars including Nathan Carter, Michael English, Robert Mizzell, Paddy O’ Brien and Lee Mathews. Tickets at €25 each are available at local outlets throughout County Wexford with a list available on the www.southeastmusicfestival.com website. Admission is free for children accompanied by an adult. Gates will open at 11 am and non-stop entertainment will be provided throughout the day from 1pm to 7pm. A large dance floor will be available for those who wish to dance and seating will also be provided.The event will have a full alcohol licence and food will be served. There will also be plenty of car parking facilities. Festival committee chairman Fr. Denis Doyle promises that the event taking place at Bannow Rathangan Showgrounds will be a highlight of the summer and a fantastic day out for al the family. The inaugural South East Country Music Festival is presented by Kilmore Parish. 2 TAGOAT STEAM RALLY: All roads will lead to Tagoat on Sunday, August 21 for the 31st annual Steam Rally which celebrates the glorious era of the steam engine and old fashioned country life in general. The attractions will include vintage machinery from tractors and stationary engines to cars and motor bikes along with three large steam engines, a threshing demonstration, working forge, fun fair, bouncy castles, horseshoes, dog show, pets’ corner, trade stands and a variety of side shows with Ballindaggin Pipe Band, Drinagh Mummers, Tom Murphy and the Highwaymen and Zumba dancing. 3 VINTAGE THRESHING DAY: Relive common agricultural scenes of days gone by, as traditional farming skills are put to the test at a Vintage Threshing Day this weekend. The event takes place on Sunday, August 21, on land belonging to Matt Doyle at Carrigbeg, Craanford, and the enthusiasts will be in action from 1 p.m. Their work should be of interest to both young and old. The day is being held to raise funds for the Friends of Gorey District Hospital and all support would be appreciated. 4 LUCK OF THE IRISH TOUR: The first of 10 concerts in hotel venues takes place in the Ashdown Park Hotel in Gorey, on Sunday, August 21, with Bagatelle, supported by Andrew Berry of The Voice fame, and Michael & Donna, with guest act, The Carty Sisters. Doors open at 7.30 p.m. with the first act onstage 8 p.m. There will be just under 4 hours of live music. Tickets (€20) at hotel reception or on 087 9331752. Over 18 only. This is a ticket only concert. 5 BIO BLITZ: A BioBlitz is taking place at Wexford Wildfowl Reserve next Tuesday, August 23, in an attempt to identify as many species of plant and animal as possible. People of all ages are welcome to join in the citizen science project that will help provide valuable data about the biodiversity of the Wildfowl Reserve and assist in future conservation management.The BioBlitz will run from 9am to 4 pm and is a drop-in event so visitors can stay for a few minutes or a few hours.Staff at the centre will coordinate activities on the day and all equipment will be provided. 6 BUNCLODY HORTICULTURAL SHOW: The 65th annual horticultural show and exhibition will take place in Bunclody Vocational College in Irish Street from 2pm to 5pm on Saturday, August 20. An array of flowers, vegetables and plants will be on display as members of Bunclody Horticultural Society show off the fruits of their green-fingered skills and compete for prizes. All are welcome to go along. The society has an active membership of all age groups and a busy calendar of events including meetings, informative talks and presentations, guest speakers and visits to other shows. 7 TRI-THE-HOOK TRIATHLON: Tri-the-Hook traithlon takes place on Saturday, August 20, on the stunning Hook Peninsula. This Vodafone National Series Sprint Triathlon involves athletes completing a 750m swim, a 22.19km cycle on a technical course and a 5.3km run. Organised by Hook Tourism Ltd, registration is on Friday, August 19, from 7 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. and on Saturday, August 20 from 6.45 a.m. to 9.15 a.m. The race start time is at 10 a.m. on Saturday, with the swim listed as the first event. Two mini buses will be run from transition to the finish line for spectators and then from the finish line back to parking and transition for competitors and spectators. See www.trithehook.com.