Cathal Buí sets the scene for summer in Blacklion

Blacklion's first festival of the summer proved to be a huge success as the sun beat down on the crowds of people enjoying the 13th annual Cathal Buí Community Arts and Heritage Festival last weekend. The festival opened on Thursday, June 24 and concluded on Monday with a Geopark Safari through Cuilcagh Mountain Park during the day and a monster raffle in the Bush Bar. The weekend included traditional singing, storytelling and poetry readings, geo-archaeological field trips, a walk and talk in Moneygashel (to examine stonework from the Neolithic age to the twentieth century), a car treasure hunt, children's magic and puppet show and disco, and art workshops for adults and children. On Friday, the Cross Community Peace and Reconciliation Project, with Moybrone Pipe Band and music by children from Killinagh and Florencecourt schools was launched with a DVD of local personal accounts of the Troubles in Gortatole Outdoor Education Centre. Legendary Irish actor Mick Lally starred alongside George McMahon, better known for his role as Mondo in Fair City, and rising star Edwin Mullane in the Robert Farquhar play 'God's Official', on the Sunday night of the festival and proved to be a big hit judging by the size of the crowd. The good weather was an added bonus as tourists flocked into the village to enjoy the festivities. One tourist, Sean Hughes told The Anglo-Celt: "We came here for the week on a holiday and its really great to see all the community coming together and celebrating something traditional like this. The area is just so beautiful, we will definitely be back." The Cathal Buí Festival kick started what is to be an action packed summer for Blacklion. The village has shown huge community spirit since last year's successful Fair Day Festival weekend and with heats of Blacklion's Got Talent coming to a close, the party is only getting started. The final on the Fair Day Rose Competition is taking place this Saturday, July 3 in The Bush Bar Blacklion. The winner will officially open the Fair Day Weekend the following weekend from July 8 to 12. Photographs of the events, including the Cathal Buí Festival, can be viewed at www.photosofblacklion.net or visit www.blacklion.ie for more news and events.