Eugene Mc Garvey, Triona Boner and Paddy Bonner of the Burtonport Festival committee pictured at the opening on Saturday evening.
GLORIOUS weather greeted visitors as Burtonport’s 50th Summer Festival opened its nine-day programme on Friday.
The milestone celebrations built through the weekend with so much happening for young and old.
It was an full of memories and nostalgia as festival founders David Alcorn and Mick Maloney returned to officially open the 50th festival following a community parade on Saturday – nearly half a century after they first got the event off the ground back in 1977.
The parade brought marching bands, floats and local sporting clubs and organisations through the village before arriving at the festival’s newly constructed platform for the opening ceremony.
Sunday’s programme carried the celebrations further, with strong interest in the Owey Island trip as the traditional Blessing of the Boats took place alongside a community brunch and live performances from the Rosses Ukulele Group and The Humble Earthworm.
Members of the Dungloe band on parade at the opening of the Burtonport Festival.
Looking ahead, the festival continues through the week with a packed programme of family and sporting events.
Monday features the Woodland Wonders at the Old Railway walk, a day at the beach for Children and “It’s a Knockout,” at the festival platform.
Owen Coyle having a chat with former Ireland and Celtic goalkeeper Packie Bonner at the opening of the 50th Burtonport Festival. Photos: Eoin McGarvey.
Tuesday, July 21 brings the popular “Escape from the Island” challenge, sending families to Rutland Island to solve clues as part of this year’s island adventure.
The week’s sporting programme also continues, taking in a duathlon, road races, football blitz, sea angling, tug of war and the perennial duck derby.
The festival builds towards a fireworks display over the harbour at 11pm on Friday, July 24, following a live performance in the village, before concluding with a seafood and wine buffet at St Columba’s Community Centre on Saturday, July 25.
Mick Maloney and David Alcorn, founders of the Burtonport Festival pictured at the opening of this year’s 50th festival where they cut the ribbon.
Hugh McLaughlin and Eamon Sweeney.
Burtonport Festival prince Seóirse Doherty and princess Seanna Sweeney.