Lios Póil celebrates life of a vibrant community

PRIDE of place is central to Féile Lios Póil which will start this Friday night, kicking off a week of activities celebrating the parish, its people and traditions.

The official opening on Friday night by Micheál O Muircheartaigh includes the launch of an exhibition of items and photographs relating to the lives and achievements of Laochra an Féile, Bill Casey, Johnny Moriarty and Johnny Bowler. Following on from this, there will be talks and presentations on the lives of the three men, and former Dublin player Brian Mullins will explain his close ties to Lispole.

The muscle-wrenching Rás an Stricín takes place on Saturday morning when people of all ages and walks of life take on the challenge of racing from Lios Deargáín to the top of the Stricín. The first man and woman to the top in this short but extremely strenuous run are awarded with the titles of King and the Queen of the Stricín.

The week also has a display of cookery, vegetables, flowers and crafts, and presents an opportunity to win a lamb, take part in wheelbarrow races, a sheep show, and the finals of an ongoing racquetball tournament.

Football is a cornerstone of community life in Lios Póil, so it is no surprise that football skills feature as well, including the Comortas Cic Glic, in which teams from each townland aim to kick a football from one end of the other in the least amount of kicks.

When it comes to community spirit, Lios Póil has it in abundance, and this week’s activities are the highlight of the year for this vibrant community.