Excitement in the town as the Regatta Festival gets started
WICKLOW Regatta will celebrate its 139th anniversary this year, making it Ireland’s oldest festival.
The Singing Pubs competition is already under way, kicking off on Friday last, July 21, in Doyle’s of Rathnew and continuing on Sunday in the Woodpecker in Ashford. The competition continues tonight (Wednesday, July 26) in The Bridge Tavern in Wicklow before the action switches to the Rathnew House (Saturday, July 29), Tá Sé’s in Wicklow (Tuesday, August 1), Whistler’s Bar (Wednesday, August 2) and finishing up in Fitz’s Bar in Wicklow (Thursday, August 3).
The Wicklow Regatta will include all the old favourites such as Wicklow’s Got Talent, golly fishing, pet show, fancy dress, raft race, historical walks and much, much more.
The Regatta Queen Ball will be held in The Grand Hotel on Friday, July 28, at 7.30 p.m. This black-tie event is being held in association with the Wicklow Hospice Foundation as joint beneficiaries.
The always popular Young at Heart dance takes place in the Grand Hotel on Wednesday, August 2,
Music will again be a big feature of the festival. Talented locals The Maguire Family will be playing at a traditional night in the Market Square on Friday, August 4.
There will also be live outdoor music on Saturday, August 5, followed by a Family Hoedown on Sunday and a special performance by The Birds of Olympus in Wicklow (Col) Parish Church.
A spectacular fireworks display will illuminate the night sky above the Black Castle on Sunday, August 6.
The festival then draws to a close on Monday, August 7, with the annual Wicklow Rowing Club Regatta.
The programme, featuring all the Regatta listings and start-times, was launched recently and is now available from Malone’s Book Shop, Earls News Agents, Cora’s Mini Mart, Flannery’s Wicklow Town and in XL Rathnew.