WITH big crowds of young and not so young, beautiful weather, and a wonderful programme of events and entertainment, this year’s 50th Burtonport Festival was undoubtedly one of the best yet.
The organising committee deserve special praise for organising another memorable festival and as you can see from the round up of the results from the various events, there was something for everyone.
Festival round-up:
On Friday, July 17 the winner of the Festival Prince was Seoirse Doherty, Ballybofey and the winner of the Festival Princess was Seana Sweeney, Dungloe.
The 50/50 bingo winner of €90 was Corina O’Donnell.
Winners of the heat of ‘How well do you know your partner’ were Brian and Maura McKeever, joined by Elaine Boyle and Frank McKeown.
John Pidgeon, Neil Swan, John Doogan and Gavin Boyle at the Burtonport Festival.
SATURDAY
On Saturday, July 18 the winner of the duathlon, held from Keadue Rovers’ grounds at Central Park, was Dwayne Bryans, Lisnaskea, Fermanagh, 2nd place went to Pat Bonner and 3rd place to Adrian Bonner.
In the ladies section, winner was Cathy Breslin, while in 2nd was Aine Boner and 3rd place went to Megan Boner.
At the Bonny Baby Show in the Community Centre, there were 38 entries. Joint winners of the 0-3 months boys category were Theo Moore and Michael McShane and joint winners of the 0-3 months girls category were Eabha McCaffrey and Eabha Flanagan.
Joint winners of the 6-9 months boys category were Corey Doherty, Hughie Porter and Killian Harkin, while joint 2nd were Lincoln Curran, Chuláinn Boyle and Finnian O’Boyle.
Joint winners of the 6-9 months girls category were Evie Greene and Violet Greene and in joint 2nd were Sophie McGonagle and Cora Cleary.
In the 1-2 year old boys category, winner was Freddie Michael Ward, joint 2nd were Joseph Gallagher and Finn Walsh, while joint 3rd were Sullivan Molloy and Conor Gordon.
In the girls 1-2 years category, joint 1st were Eire Bonner, Eva McLaughln and Amelia Campbell, joint 2nd were Grace Cleary, Ayla Boyle, Robyn Elliott and Sophia Curran while joint 3rd were Florence Tracey, Riona Bonner, Gracie McGuire and Bella Doogan.
In the boys 2-3 years category, joint winners were Seamus Porter and Cian Doherty, while 2nd was Arden O’Donnell.
Finally in the girls 2-3 years category, joint winners were Fiadh Bonner and Olivia McGarrigle and joint 2nd were Addison Ferry, Annie Boyle and Ellie Mae Boyle.
The bonniest baby was Evie McLaughlin and the glamorous granny was Patsy Spillane.
The walking treasure hunt winner was Leo Austin, best float at the parade was El Galéon Rosses, while the 50/50 bingo winner was Katie Sharkey, Keadue.
Former councillor John Boyle of the Killaghatee Band with David Alcorn at the Burtonport Festival. Photos: Eoin McGarvey.
SUNDAY
On Sunday, July 19, the bridge competition had joint winners in Joseph Boyle/Margaret Nairn and Pat McDaid/Zrinka Kokot. In joint 3rd place were Rachel Parke/William Fulton.
Best Intermediate A was James Thornton/Myles Hannigan, best Intermediate B was Rosaleen McShane/Anne T Doherty.
The 50/50 bingo winner was Aoife Crean, Tullyillon.
In the Festival Queen competition, contestants were Shauan Hawkins of Maple Shop, Alicia O’Donnell, Burtonport Gift Shop, Aoife McGonagle of the Lobster Pot, Abbey Gallagher of O’Donnell’s Bar, Tara McElroy of the Wheelhouse Café.
Abbey Gallagher was crowned Festival Queen.
Judges were Louise of Luna Aesthetics, Joe Walsh and Katie McGuinness. Luna Aesthetics sponsored prizes and gifts for the contestants.
MONDAY
On Monday, July 20, the winners of the sandcastle competition were the Campbells, joint 2nd were the Bungs and Darragh Clarke, while joint 3rd were Roise and gang and Emma Clydsdale. In the local section, winner was Cassie, in joint 2nd were the Bonners and the Kellys and in joint 3rd were the Ham family and Shay.
The overall winner was Senan, 2nd was Linda Boyle, while 3rd were the Murphys and Molly and Riley.
Three teams competed in It’s a Knockout, Irish Premium Oysters and the Rosses team. Winners were the O’Donnell’s Bar team of Abbey Gallagher, Christopher O’Donnell, Jamie O’Donnell, Katie Wallace, Joseph Duffy and Caelan Bonner.
Referees for the event were Pat Boner and Michael McElroy.
A good crowd attended the Whist at St. Columba’s Community Centre and the results were: Blue side, 1st place Mary McGuire, Cavan with 172 points, in 2nd place Ann Marie Blair, Gaoth Dobhair with 168 points and in 3rd place, Brid Campbell, Cavan with 167 points.
Pink side, 1st place Cathy Coyle, Meenmore with 167 points, 2nd place Mary Walsh, Lackenagh with 167 points and in joint 3rd place with a score of 163 points were Georgina McBride, Gaoth Dobhair and Nora Scallon, Cavan. Well done to all participants.
Winner of the 50/50 bingo was Ada O’Donnell.
Members of the Rosses Men’s Shed on parde at the Burtonport Festival.
TUESDAY
On Tuesday, July 21, in the pet show, the winner of the small dogs section was “Bella” by Ella Ward, 2nd was “Maggie” by Mickey Sweeney and 3rd was “Spud” by Sandra Conway.
In the medium dogs section, 1st place was “Alfie” by the Ward boys, 2nd was Sadie by Sara O’Boyle and 3rd was “Gabe” by Eileen Dickey.
In the large dogs section, the winner was “Bo” by Shauna O’Boyle, 2nd was “Mackenzie” by Bella and 3rd was “Phoebe” by Saoirse.
In the soft toys section, winner was Elsie Quinn’s Minnie Mouse, 2nd place was Cillian McLaughlin’s dinosaur and 3rd place was Oran Kelly’s Dog.
In the other pets section, the winner was Evelyn’s chicken and 2nd was Annabel Daish’s guinea pigs. Most stylish dog was “Daisy” by the Wards/Quinns, 2nd was “Roise” by the O’Donnell’s and 3rd was “Puca” by Breda O’Donnell.
Best behaved dog was Lola McElroy, waggiest tail was “Buster” by Amanda McGlynn and finally in the dog tricks section, 1st was “Martha”, 2nd was “Coplin” and 3rd was “Willow”.
5K RACE
At the 5k Road Race, which was sponsored by the Cope Dungloe, the winner of the men’s section was Declan Ferry of Rosses AC in 15mins 25 secs, 2nd was Gerard Gallagher of Finn Valley AC in 15mins 42 secs and 3rd was Shane O’Donnell of Rosses AC in 16 mins.
Winner of the ladies section was Helen McCready of Rosses AC in 18mins 13secs, 2nd was Bernie Boyle of Rosses AC in 18mins 57secs and 3rd was Melissa Burnett in 19mins 48 secs.
In the male over 40’s, 1st was Barry Gallagher of Finn Valley AC in 16mins 57secs, 2nd was Manus McHugh of Rosses AC in 17mins and 3rd was Gavin Ward of Rosses AC in 17mins 37secs.
In the male over 50’s, 1st was Ciaran Doherty of Letterkenny AC in 16mins 11 secs, 2nd was Patrick Trimble of Rosses AC in 17mins 38 secs and in 3rd was Sean McFadden of Letterkenny AC in 18mins 23secs.
In the male over 60’s, 1st was David O’Donnell of Crusaders AC Dublin in 20mins 25secs, 2nd place Michael Penrose of Finn Valley AC in 21mins 34 secs, 3rd place Eddie McFadden Falcarragh Park Run in 26mins 22 secs.
In the male over 70’s section 1st was Richie Raymond of Letterkenny AC in 26mins 41secs, 2nd was Malachy Doyle of Rosses AC in 26mins 41secs and 3rd was Laird Dinsmore in 28mins 43 secs.
In the female over 40’s, 1st place Irene McFadden of Letterkenny AC in 23mins 26secs, 2nd was Roisin Moy in 24mins and 3rd was Niamh Houston in 27mins 7secs.
In the female over 50’s, 1st was Cathy Breslin of Rosses AC in 21mins 48secs, 2nd was Nuala Devlin in 22mins 11secs and 3rd was Karen Devenney of Rosses AC in 23mins 53secs.
In the female over 60’s, 1st was Vera Haughey of Tir Conaill AC in 26mins 41secs, 2nd was Jackie Harvey of Tirconaill AC in 27mins, 43 secs and 3rd was Gloria Donaghy of Finn Valley AC in 28mins, 30 secs.
In the junior male section, 1st was Evan Ward of Rosses AC in 18mins 7secs, 2nd was Oisin Rodgers in 18mins 37secs and 3rd was Cameron Gilchrist in 20mins 30secs.
Finally the junior female section, 1st was Isa Bonner of Rosses AC in 21mins 2secs, 2nd was Seana Sweeney of Rosses AC in 22mins 17secs and 3rd was Kayla Moy of Finn Valley AC in 23mins 54secs. Co-ordinator of the event was Owen Coyle.
JIVING
At the jiving competition, held during the David James concert 1st were Alicia Wasson and Cassie Simpson, best jiver on the night was Chloe Wilson, while best young jivers were Aileen Dixon and Kaylum Phela Foy.
The 50/50 bingo winner was Marjorie Kelleher, Milltown.
In the final of ‘How well do you know your partner’ four couples were present, Elaine Boyle and Frank McKeown, Brian and Maura McKeever, Jasmin and David Young, Glasgow and Melissa and Paul Burnett, Glasgow. Overall winners were Jasmine and David Young while runners up were Elaine Boyle and Frank McKeown.
The winners were presented with a trophy and €100 voucher from the Lobster Pot.
WEDNESDAY
On Wednesday, July 22, the Children’s talent contest took place and with 25 acts taking part, the winners were: 1st Real Deal (Bronagh McKnight and Fiadh Davies), 2nd was Roisin Lawlor and 3rd was Ruby Stanley. Judges were Martin Harkin, Michelle Heatley and Evelyn Doherty.
The 50/50 bingo winner was Mary Walsh.
On Thursday, July 23 the winner of the Children’s fancy dress was Shay Molloy as Paddington Bear.
The 50/50 bingo winner was Declan McBride.
The Alcorn brothers, Adrian and David at the opening of the 50th Burtonport Festival.
FRIDAY
On Friday, July 24, the sea angling competition had the following results: heaviest fish at 2.6 Kgs was Seamus O’Donnell, most variety (3 way tie) was Derek Heena, Derek Bonner and Ayrton O’Donnell and best young angler was John Boyle.
Seven boats took to the water with over 20 competitors.
The best baker competition winners were Breegeen Boner (best novelty cake), James Doyle (best sponge cake) and Aine Sweeney (best orange cake), Michaela Walter (healthiest bakes), James Doyle (best scones) and James Doyle (best overall baker)
The Duck Derby had 200 ducks in the water, with the 1st prize of €150 won by Ann McDaid, the 2nd prize of €100 won by Brid Wallace and the 3rd prize of €50 won by Rachel Keltie.
The Mens Tug O War competition for the Charlie Ban Memorial Trophy was won by O’Donnell’s Bar, with Seamus acting as anchor, combined with Jamie O’Donnell, Justin Gallagher and others.
The car treasure hunt was won by Broomfield and Co, while runners up were Ann Marion Sweeney and Co.
The 50/50 bingo winner was Orlagh McElroy.
The 50/50 bingo winner on the final night was Paddy Boner.
SATURDAY
On Saturday, July 25, the seafood and wine buffet, kindly sponsored by Irish Premium Oysters, had a capacity attendance with lovely food enjoyed by all.
It was the first one held since 2016. Many thanks to the Gallagher family and in particular all those who helped with serving and worked in the kitchen.
This concluded eight days of continuous events, indoor and outdoor in one of the best spells of weather since the Festival began in 1977.
Well done to the festival directors, festival executive and all helpers.
We look forward to our 51st festival in 2027.