The West Armagh Community Festival concluded on Saturday with a fun day and the finals of some of the sporting competitions that took place during the week. Many attended the last day and enjoyed football, poc/cic fada, bouncey castles, rodeo bull, gladiator ring and bungee run. There also musical entertainment provided by Crowbar Blues and the crowd was also entertained by Irish dancing and a belly dancer. It was quite a contrast in style but the crowd seemed to appreciate it.
The organisers of the festival would like to thank everyone who helped. They are too numerous to mention but suffice to say that the week-long festival would not have been possible without the active participation of the volunteers. Undoubtedly one of the highlights of the festival was the events in and around the 50th Anniversary of the Callan Street Gas Explosion. A 5km run and 2km walk was organised to raise funds for both this venture and for P.I.P.S. It surpassed all expectations with several hundred people taking part. The unveiling of the memorial and the exhibition and talk the following night were also very well supported. So much so that it was standing room only in the consortiums hall for the lecture and slide show delivered by local historian John Nixon.
