Wonderful weekend in store at Strokestown’s inaugural Easter Festival
Members of the Women’s Shed pictured at last year's Strokestown's Easter Parade. Pic. Gerard O’Loughlin
It is set to be another wonderful Easter weekend in Strokestown, with its inaugural Easter Festival.
The County Roscommon town's much loved Easter Parade, is sure to be as popular as ever, attracting people from all over the county and beyond.
For the first time, the parade, which has been in place for 30 years, will top off the town’s first festival weekend on Easter Sunday at 3 p.m..
The festival kicks off on Good Friday, April 18th with a talk at the Percy French Hotel at 2 p.m. on the Bumlin and Lisonuffy cemeteries. These talks will be given by research archaeologist Mary B Timoney (née Murphy). She has been researching grave memorials since 1984. She received an MA from UCC in 2001. Her ‘Ballintober Old Graveyard and the Grave Memorials of Co. Roscommon, 2018,’ and ‘Kilmeane Co. Roscommon, The Graveyard and the Grave Memorials, 2023,’ were published by Roscommon County Council. She has lectured and published widely on grave memorials. Many of the Lissonuffy and Bumlin gravestones are illustrated in these books, which feature over 1,500 pieces of Roscommon gravestone sculpture.
The number of quality headstones in the graveyards is a reflection of the social and economic history of what was happening in the parish. The parish is fortunate in having the gravestones of Lissonuffy recorded and available on historicgraves.ie. Mary will explain the symbols on the headstones and talk about the masons who carved them. The Ballintober and Kilmeane books will be on sale at the reduced price of €35 at the lecture.
This talk will be finished by 3 p.m. to accommodate those wishing to attend Good Friday ceremonies.
At 4 p.m. a walk will take place on Sliabh Bawn. Funds raised will go to two local organisations, the Hub in Strokestown and SCDA. This walk will be led by former local TD and senator Eugene Murphy, who will be walking backwards for 10kms on the mountain. Walking backwards or retro walking has a number of potential health benefits, including burning more calories, strengthening back muscles, increasing hamstring flexibility, as well as encouraging injury recovery.
“I can’t overstate how much I love walking on Sliabh Bawn, it has so much nature and history,” Mr Murphy, who is also the festival's chairman, told the Herald. “It is just an amazing place. You can see 14 counties from it.” The walk is aiming to raise at least €4,000 for the local charities. Mr Murphy has walked backwards for charity before, raising money for local cancer services and he is encouraging interested groups to contact him to organise other events.
“I will raise money for any group that approaches me,” he said. “I started exercising by walking backwards a number of years ago. People are mystified that I can do it,” he said with a laugh. “I find it unbelievable for your body and mind. It is so relaxing but I would advise people to bring someone with them when doing it. I will at times walk forwards but the bulk will be done backwards.” As part of his training, he has been swimming at Roscommon Leisure Centre.
“I have also been walking backways in the pool there, which I find really good. I am doing a bit of cycling as well,” Mr Murphy said.
On Good Friday night a table quiz will take place at The Central Bar. The quiz will start at 8.30 p.m. to be followed by a traditional music session.
On Saturday, April 19th, a treasure hunt will take place in town. Saturday night will see a traditional session at the Percy French Hotel, and admission is free. The public is invited to participate, and it is sure to be a fantastic night.
Easter Sunday is the highlight of the weekend with a massive community parade through the town commencing at 3 p.m.. There will be live music, street stalls and up to 40 floats participating. The theme of this year's parade is ‘Our children, our future’, and there will be a prize for the Best Easter Window display.
The Strokestown Community Development Association, organisers the event are most grateful to the business community and Roscommon County Council for their assistance with the cost of running the festival.
The festival costs €8,000 to run and people are encouraged to come into town to support it. All floats are free and the festival will have an Easter Draw and lines are available throughout the town.
Strokestown has a great welcome awaiting all visitors to town this Easter weekend.
“We also have the National Famine Museum open over the weekend and a major Easter Egg Hunt will also take place there,” the organisers said. “We are all conscious that there is a big football match between Galway and Roscommon on Easter Sunday and visitors will be able to watch the match in venues throughout the town.”
