Cavan’s call being heard around the world
Excitement is building ahead of the landmark homecoming festival, Cavan Calling, with events taking place countywide from July 26-30.
The county specific mini follow-up to 2013’s Gathering organised by the council aims to bring Cavan’s global diaspora home to celebrate all things Breffni.
Featuring established world-class acts and events from the Boomtown Rats (July 29) to a Museum Military Show (July 29-30) and Cuilcagh Lakelands Geo Park family fun day (July 27), not to mention a Summer Street Market (July 29-30), there’s plenty on offer and something to interest everyone.
“The excitement is definitely building, it’s there. We are obviously aware of various groups connected to Cavan and twinning committees and who’ll be travelling over, but there are plenty more who’ve been in contact to tell us they’re looking forward to coming home from Canada, or the UK, America, or even different parts of Ireland,” says Cavan Calling committee member, Conor Harrington. “It’s been really great to hear from people and to see that happening, some people who haven’t been home in years, but who are making the effort to get home for this.”
Conor says Cavan Calling is an opportunity for family, friends and people with an affinity for the Breffni County to connect and reconnect with “home” - reaffirming the sense of solidarity and common identity that so many longed for during the toughest days of the pandemic.
“It’s about celebrating the global community of Cavan, our shared culture and history,” says Conor. “We always talk about the famous people with links back to this county, but Cavan people, wherever they are, they’re known to be hard workers, they’re resilient, they’re entertainers, innovators, entrepreneurs, talented sports people, and are involved right at the very heart of their respective communities.”
A lot has gone into planning this flagship event, put on hiatus in 2020 and instead forced online due to Covid.
“We’ve been talking about this since 2019, so from an organisational perspective, there is a lot of excitement in finally seeing all those planning meetings, the time and effort put into organising events and concerts, exhibitions and everything else, finally come to fruition. From our perspective it’s been a long road, but it’s going to be worth it.”
From an organisational side of things Conor says the council can once again rely on the generosity of spirit from within.
“There has always been a solid volunteer ethos within the council, going back to successive All Ireland Fleadhs and Taste of Cavan as well, people giving up their own time, staff both past and present putting their hands up. It’s a great thing to be part of.”
What’s remarkable about Cavan Calling, says Conor is the “community” ethos it espouses.
A total of €45,000 was divided among community groups willing to host various homecoming themed events in their own towns and villages, from street art to genealogy workshops (July 27) and conference, community celebrations, and business networking opportunities (July 27) and much more.
The Boomtown Rats will meanwhile host the first open air concert at Cavan Town’s Egg Market since Sharon Shannon memorably rounded off the trio of Cavan Fleadhanna. It is one of several centrepiece to the official Cavan Day (July 29) celebrations, which climaxes with a fireworks display.
Tickets available
A limited amount of additional tickets for the Boomtown Rats concert will be made available from noon this coming Thursday, July 6, through CavanCalling.com.
For more information on Cavan Calling or about any of the events taking place, visit www.cavancalling.com, follow @cavancalling on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or email info@cavandiaspora.com.