THIS year’s Lady of the Lake Festival was the biggest yet, says one of its organisers, another feather in the cap for the people of Irvinestown who have embraced the cross community event for 39 years. 
“The festival wouldn’t be as successful as it has been without the support of local people, traders and the thousands who come out to enjoy it,” said Joe Mahon, one of the people behind the event.
It came to a spectacular end on Sunday following ten days of family fun with the return of the ever popular truck convoy in aid of Marie Curie in which 369 lorries took to the road.
“I want to thank everyone who took part in the convoy and who watched it and I especially want to thank the PSNI’s Noel Barton and all his team for their support and assistance,” said Mr. Mahon.
Thousands of people turned out to support the festival and its programme of hilarious, wacky and unusual events including hole digging and wood pellet spitting contests and cockfighting which featured three men dressed in chicken costumes fighting in the street.
One spectator, Eric Endy, even travelled from Hong Kong to attend the festival for the second consecutive year and won the wood pellet spitting contest. 
A vintage rally featuring old cars and tractors and a fancy dress parade, which included a young boy dressed up as a much older Joe Mahon, were popular attractions last Thursday.
The annual festival of lights on Friday night included an “electrifying” fire jump by Aughakillymaude Mummers as thousands watched on. 
This year’s hole digging contest was won by Gareth McCarron from Irvinestown, who finished second last year, after he “developed a new technique.” He won an engraved speech and donated his £100 winnings to charity. 
“The Lady of the Lake Festival is in its 39th year and is going from strength to strength. We are looking forward to next year and hope it’ll be as big as previous years. My thanks to the hard work of the festival committee; without them there wouldn’t be a festival.
“I think Fermanagh and Omagh District Council should now sit up and take a look at the coverage our festival has received, the fact 35,000 people turned out to support it and reflect on how much funding it makes available for local community festivals,” said Mr. Mahon.