Edenderry now a firm favourite for boaters as thousands attended the Harbour Festival

Thousands flocked to Edenderry over the glorious Easter weekend to welcome the canal boats back to Edenderry. Oisin Feery, who won Gold and Bronze medals at the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi 2019 in March led the boats into the harbour under a spectacular fire arch created by the local fire station in Edenderry. It was quite a moment as the vessels chugged into the harbour in a kaleidoscope of colour to the cheers of the crowds and delight of all who attended. The harbour was a feast for the senses as music filled the air and various food and market vendors, face painters, bouncy castles, roaming characters and entertainers kept the children busy.

NO FEE PIC 22/04 Thousands flocked to Edenderry over the glorious Easter weekend to welcome the canal boats back to Edenderry with the Edenderry Harbour Festival presented by Edenderry Chamber of Commerce. Pictured here are the Boats arriving into Edenderry Harbour lead by Special Olympic Gold Medal Winnner Oisin Feery and Adam Daizell Picture by Elaine McCrossan

“It was an honour to finally welcome the boats back to Edenderry. We had some very special guests and local stars who put on an amazing demonstration of all that is great about Edenderry. Last weekend showcased once again the positive and extra special community spirit in Edenderry. We know that the boats will continue to journey back to Edenderry Harbour and I will continue working with the Inland Waterways Association and Waterways Ireland and with the whole community to put the Canal and our Waterways higher up on the agenda. Edenderry Harbour can look to a bright future with having recently secured approval to compile a feasibility study for the Harbour & Banks Project Regeneration with LEADER and Community Water Funds.” Said Christine Traynor, Chairperson of the Edenderry Chamber of Commerce

NO FEE PIC 22/04 Sisters Diana and Sofia Diadiajeva pictured at the Edenderry Harbour Festival presented by Edenderry Chamber of Commerce. Thousands flocked to Edenderry over the glorious Easter weekend to welcome the canal boats back and launch Edenderry as a Gateway to the Hidden Heartlands Picture by Elaine McCrossan

Greg Traynor, Ed Kenny and Owen O Reilly belted out a customised version of the famous Thin Lizzy number ‘Boats are back in town’ as part of an impressive musical line-up on the day which included local musicians, singers from Midlands Drama School, Irish Dancers and a big showcase of local talent. The team from Eden FM did a fantastic job of bringing the perfect pitch sound to both the main stage and the Barge stage and the whole community came together to make this an unforgettable weekend in Edenderry.

NO FEE PIC 22/04 Pic 1 Christine Traynor Chairperson Edenderry Chamber of Commerce and John Dolan President IWAI pictured with Helen O Dwyer and Sean O Reilly at the the Edenderry Harbour Festival presented by Edenderry Chamber of Commerce. Thousands flocked to Edenderry over the glorious Easter weekend to welcome the canal boats back and launch Edenderry as a Gateway to the Hidden Heartlands Picture by Elaine McCrossan

Tim Meehan, secretary of the Offaly Branch of Inlands Waterways Ireland said “this was the best boating event I have been to in decades, and what made it so special was the interaction and warm welcome all the boaters got from the people of Edenderry. The fact that the people are taking such interest and pride in ‘their’ piece of the canal makes all the work worthwhile. So it is a massive well done to all involved and thank you to the Edenderry Chamber of Commerce for putting the festival together and the people of Edenderry for making us (the boaters) so welcome”

Boaters came from all over the country to the festival, aptly named ‘The fleet to the peat’ by the boating community! The Boats were all dressed up for the occasion with a prize for the Best Dressed Boat, sponsored by the Station House. It was a day for celebration as Oisin was honoured and there was also a warm welcome for the 905’s Cycling Club’s “Pat Jones Memorial Cycle 2019” who made a presentation to ‘Football for All’ on the Harbour Festival stage

The Edenderry Harbour Festival was a resounding success and placed Edenderry firmly on the map as a ‘Gateway to the Hidden Heartlands’