Raft race cancelled for the first time

As expected the Tidy Towns have cancelled this year’s Raft Race due to take place next month. The Committee made a formal decision not to proceed with the event at a virtual meeting this week.

This would have been the Silver Jubilee of the inauguration of the event, which was first staged in 1996.

This will be the first year since that the Tidy Towns have not been able to stage the event, which over the years was enlarged and turned into a day of festivity and fun in the village, with several supporting events and attractions providing entertainment for all the family.

It developed into a major day in the village , drawing a large crowd and apart from serving it’s primary objective of raising funds for Committee, was a big boon to local business.

Over the years for different reasons the date of the event which was in the main on a Sunday later in June, was switched in instances to avoid clashing with major sporting occasions, such as Ireland’s participation in the World Cup and the European championships.

But the date was dictated by suitable tides and the times they rolled ashore. Hence in the case of last year it was held on the June bank holiday Monday, as it had been previously.

This year the date had been fixed for the Sunday, June 7, and preparatory arrangements made including applying for an event licence from Louth County Council.

Alas in this unprecedented time another potential uplift for all the community and many further afield has been taken away with the restrictions for COVID-19 pandemic, mainly the requirement for social distancing of 2m and the 5,000 crowd limit for larger gatherings.

Chairman John Horan in announcing the decision of the Tidy Towns Committee to cancel the race, ‘acknowledged the support of a lot of sponsors, many of whom have closed, and we feel for them. We also acknowledge the contributions of volunteers and organisations, including the Red Cross, Civil Defence, Sub Aqua club, Coast Guard Service and all the people who have helped over the years. Hopefully we will get back there again.’

He said that hopefully the race would resume again next year. The Committee were mindful of the situation businesses were in with premises closed. The Committee’s wish was to see all publicans, restaurateurs, shopkeepers and all in business back operating. ‘Blackrock is a vibrant community with a vibrant commercial hub and is a very important part of the life of the village. We would like to see all of them open again not just because they are sponsors but because of the vital part they play in the life of the village.’

The purpose at the outset of the Raft Race was to raise funds for the Tidy Towns and has remained to enable the Committee to carry out the plans to improve and enhance the village. The success the committee have made can be judged by the performance last year of Blackrock being adjudged the Tidiest Small Town in Ireland.

The village finished tantalisingly one point behind the overall Tidy Town winners Glaslough, as they once again earned Gold medal status for the third year in a row in the national competition.

It was one of four accolades collected by the village at the awards ceremony , also winning the Regional Tidiest Town award for the Midlands and East ( covering 12 counties), and adjudged Louth’s Tidiest Town.