LOCALS NOT HAPPY WITH PARTYING AT SEASIDE FESTIVAL
DAMAGE CAUSED TO BLACKROCK SWIMMING POOL AND A BOAT IS BURNED
July 1987
BLACKROCK is left in a sorry state at the conclusion of the seaside village’s annual festival.
Locals complain of sleepless nights, vandalism and littering, though not everyone is in favour of stopping the event, now in its fifth year.
Over the closing nights, cider-drinking thugs go on a rampage of destruction at the swimming pool, causing between £5,000 and £6,000 damage.
Louth county council says it hasn’t the money to carry out the repairs, and there are fears the pool may not re-open, especially with a new heated swimming pool earmarked for Muirhevnamor.
The local authority adds it will consider any proposals from voluntary or private enterprise to take over the running of the pool.
In addition to the swimming pool damage, a local man has his boat burned, and Blackrock resident, Dermot Ahern TD, tells of ‘picking my way through the mounds of rubbish’ as he drives down the street.
The beach is littered with bottles and other debris, while locals are furious at revellers shouting and roaring on the promenade until the small hours.
‘It’s no festival for people living here,’ says one.
However, Oliver Murphy, chairman of Blackrock Development Association, which organises the event, remarks the late-night activity isn’t as bad as other years.
His lounge/restaurant is on the main street, and he rejects criticism of the festival and how it is run, as ‘ begrudging and petty’, mixed by jealously that it is only generating business for traders, publicans in particular.
Mr Murphy does admit mistakes are made.
‘ The festival is not perfect, and there is always room for improvement.
‘It provides a lot of enjoyment and happiness, and, for young children, fond memories.’
He points out the pool sustained attacks in the past, and that publicans enforce a policy during the festival not to sell drink to be taken onto the street, and not to allow customers bring drink outside.
The chairman shares the view that street hawkers and traders should be made leave earlier, and that music and entertainment should not be allowed take place late at night.
As regards littering of the street and beach, he says that is beyond the control of the development association.
One man who lives along the seafront, and has had his differences with the organisers, confesses he wouldn’t like to see the festival stopped.
‘From the children’s point of view, there is the excitement of the various competitions and the amusements,’ he remarks.
Another man feels the festival gives the village a lift, and is something different.
Fr. Christy Mohan deplores the drinking end of the festival, but feels it has value, and provides activities for young people to enjoy.
Other residents take a different view, among them a lady who sleeps in her bathroom, to try to get away from the noise.
Deputy Ahern believes organisers ‘need to take a hard look as the way the festival is going.’