A feast of entertainment is currently being served up in Irvinestown and its environs during this year’s hugely popular Lady of the Lake Festival.
The major annual event, which according to the organisers has been going “really well” so far, was launched on Friday evening, when once again there was a huge crowd.
As always, much excitement surrounded the unveiling of this year’s Lady of the Lake – always the town’s best kept secret.
Unveiled on the night was Caoimhe McCaffrey, from Irvinestown, who has taken up her reign during the festival and will also fulfil a number of other engagements during the year.
The unveiling remains a surprise element, according to Lisa Wallace, Chairperson of the Lady of the Lake Committee, who believes that this is what brings out the crowds.
She said that although it rained on Friday night, the rain stopped as their new Lady of the Lake arrived. And in spite of the weather, she was delighted with the brilliant crowd at their launch night.
The opening evening - set in motion an exciting 10 day programme - which included last Saturday’s bonny baby event, a pet show, and evening entertainment at Castle Archdale.
Sunday proved a brilliant day, when the sun shone, according to Lisa, who highlighted that day’s range of activities, including their sports day, pig derby, donkey derby and sheep derby at Lisnarick. Their sports day, sponsored this year by Sydare Eggs, was “spectacular”, felt Lisa.
They also had a record number of fishermen who participated in their fishing competition held at Castle Archdale. A Community Service held on White Island also had record numbers in attendance.
Ensuing events were the treasure hunt on Monday of this week, the teddy bears’ picnic at the Bawnacre Centre on Tuesday, followed by a cocktail shaking competition at Mahon’s Hotel, and the 5k and 10k. The 5k was sponsored by Donna’s Hair Studio, and the 10k was sponsored by the Lady of the Lake committee.
Yesterday, Wednesday, there were large numbers of people at the Fair Day - another popular attraction during Irvinestown’s action-packed Lady of the Lake Festival, which is set to continue until Sunday.
For the new Lady of the Lake, Caoimhe McCaffrey, aged 19, a daughter of Bernie and Laurence McCaffrey, it is certainly proving a busy time, but she is greatly enjoying fulfilling her role.
As well as attending various activities, she says she has  been enjoying meeting a lot of different people. She admitted this week that she was “so surprised” to be chosen and regards it as a great opportunity.
“I was not expecting it,” confessed Caoimhe, who works part time at Centra in Irvvinestown. A former pupil of St. Mary’s College, Irvinestown, she is studying Learning Disability Nursing at Queen’s University in Belfast, having just completed her first year, and will return in September for her second year.
The middle sibling in a family of three, she has an older brother Darragh, 21, and a younger brother, Oran, 13. She spoke of the surprise for her family to hear she had been chosen and such was the closely guarded secret that she says she only told her parents during the week.
Greatly enjoying the experience, she acknowledged “how great” the Lady of the Lake Committee have been to her.