The parish of Holycross Ballycahill is going all country on Sunday July 22nd when an ambitious county music festival will be staged at St Michael’s GAA Grounds featuring many of the top acts in the business.
The GAA club made famous by legendary Tipperary hurler John Doyle embarked upon a major development programme over the course of the last five years or so which included the provision of a state-of-the-art pavilion with dressing rooms, indoor handball alley, gymnasium, meeting rooms, kitchen, all-weather ball wall, walking track and a second pitch. The facilities were opened last year by GAA President Christy Cooney with John Doyle’s family in attendance, including his wife Anne.
The club received tremendous financial support from Munster Council, the National Lottery and North Tipperary County Council, not to mention huge local support from parishioners who have been so generous.
But, now that the facilities are available and being used by the general public at large, there is a real challenge for the club officers and committee to maintain them, while at the saying time, paying back the borrowings availed of to put them in place.
Day after day, St Michael’s is a hive of activity with juvenile and adult hurlers, footballers, camogie players availing of the facilities. The schools of the parish too use the pitches while the community at large avails of the gym, walking track, ball wall and picthes for recreation. It really has become a focal point for community recreation with the vision of the club becoming a reality.
Chairman of the Organising committee, Michael Lowry T.D. – a former player with Holycross Ballycahill GAA club and a current member and parishioner said, “This event offers the very best of country music. It promises to be a great day’s entertainment and exceptional value. On the 22nd July, Holycross goes ‘country’ and we’ll be giving a warm and hospitable welcome to country and music dance lovers from all over the country.”
Deputy Lowry was approached by the club committee undeer the Chairmanship of Tom Dwyer, to investigate the possibility of an innovative fundraiser. The country music festival idea was born and the plan is to have a top class dancefloor complete with modern stage and amplification to bring the top acts alive in the grounds which has ample parking and catering facilities. Indeed, much planning has gone into this already with the appropriate permits and necessary support services being brought into play in order the stage an event which could well turn out to be an annual one, should things work out well. Individual club members have been charged with responsibility for various aspects of the preparations and teams of helpers will be assigned to ensure that everything runs smoothly on the day.
Normally used to staging divisional and county championship games, St Michael’s GAA Grounds in Glenreigh will be transformed into a live music venue. And, while this might seem to be a major departure for the club and a move away from the traditional hosting and playing of games, Holycross Ballycahill is no stranger to hosting social occasions. Back in 1959 when the club pitch was located at Killeenyarda, the decision was made to purchase the present field from Mr John Joe Hayes. And, in order to finance the move, the club ran a carnival of marquee dancing in Killeenyarda with a 4,000 sq ft marquee having been rented and erected. Dances were held on Sunday, Tuesday and Friday nights with the Royal Showband and Brendan Bowyer being one of the famous groups to hit Holycross. They came from far and wide to dance the nights away and despite the significant costs of hosting the events, the club turned a tidy profit and was able to fund their move to Glenreigh.
Well this time round, the club will welcome the likes of stellar industry legends including Jimmy Buckley, Mike Denver, Robert Mizell, Paddy O’Brien, Crystal Swing and Louise Morrissey to ensure that this event is one of the festival highlights of the year. It is predicted to attract country music lovers from all over Ireland with bookings having already been made from groups and organisations from far and wide..
Gates open at 12 noon for this unique country music , outdoor event and non-stop entertainment will be provided throughout the day until 7pm. A large dance-floor will facilitate those that wish to dance to the performances and concert-goers will enjoy easy access to and from the festival venue, in addition to a host of hospitality facilities that includes a full alcohol licence and ample parking on-site.
Tickets, priced at just €20.00, are available online at www.entertainment.com/festival or by calling Anna on 087 2400190.
So, mark a date in your diaries to see some of Ireland’s premier Country and Irish acts this July – there can be no better reason to ‘cut loose’ and dance, listen and enjoy!