Bachelor festival in Ballybunion to get world audience
June 1995
THE BALLYBUNION International Bachelor Festival will be beamed to millions of television viewers around the world next week when Dublin-based journalist Linda Duffin broadcasts a special report on the event on Sky News.
Confirming Sky’s interest in the festival, Ms Duffin said the British 24-hour news channel would feature two separate features on the event:
One bulletin on the weekend when the bachelors arrive in town and a second the following weekend when the winner is announced.
Reacting to the news that Sky would be giving special coverage to the event, Festival Director Eleanor Walsh said it was a tremendous boost, particularly since it was the festival’s 25th year.
She added that the event had a truly international flavour this year, with contestants from New York, Yorkshire and even Moscow taking part.
“RTE will also be covering the festival and the fact that Sky News will be there is recognition for the fact that the festival is on the go for 25 years. It’s a great tribute both to the committee and the town,” she said.
Linda Duffin has also agreed to be on the panel of judges who will interview all 20 contestants, most of whom are Irish. Among those vying for the title of Ballybunion Bachelor 1995 will be Kerry Bachelor Darren Quaide, and Ballybunion representative Adrian Wall.
Adrian, who describes himself as a 24-year-old ‘crowd control engineer’, says he is a great advocator of the single life and believes every man should remain a bachelor... “until he’s at least 25”.
“But I might be persuaded to marry before that if she had money,” he quipped.
Kerry representative Darren Quaide, a 23-year,-old amateur jockey also from Ballybunion gaid he’s also happy with his current bachelor status.
All 20 contestants will arrive in Ballybunion in “a cavalcade on Saturday, June 24, driven by female escorts from the town. They will embark on a busy programme of events for the week, including a fashion show with Doreen Coleman and a live comedy show with Brendan O’Carroll.
The festival is boosted this year by having a full-time office in the town, where visitors can buy tickets for the various concerts and supporters of the contestants can seek information about accommodation and the tourist attractions in the area.
Tourism Minister Enda Kenny has agreed to officially open the festival at a special reception in The Atlantic Hotel on Friday night.