June Bank Holiday weekend in County Leitrim: Five things to see and do
This June Bank Holiday weekend, there'll be plenty to do see and do in doors and outdoors in the land of the grey ridge.
We picked out five of the most exciting events on taking place this weekend:
Cowboys and Heroes
The organisers want it to be known as 'The Electric Picnic of Country Music'.
A bold statement.
But when you have a lineup that includes stars like Derek Ryan, The Tumbling Paddies, Declan Nerney and Una Healy, Robert Mizzell, Patrick Feeney, and Paul Kelly (pause for a breath), plus discos, dance lessons and several rising country starlets, then you have every right to sport that moniker.
Now in its tenth year, Cowboys and Heroes is one of the Ireland's premier country music festivals.
This weekend, thousands of lads and lassies in check shirts and Crosshatch jeans will again flock to Drumcoura City, Ballinamore, for the latest iteration of this three-day hooley.
Tickets are scarce. Get them at https://www.cowboysandheroes.ie/tickets
Carrick Carnival
There's plenty to do in Carrick-on-Shannon on any given weekend – particularly for the herds of stag dos that roam the town all year round.
This weekend, there'll be fun for all the family when the annual Carrick Carnival pitches up in town.
Starting on Thursday, May 29 and stretching right on until June 8, the Carrick Carnival offers everything from food tasting, to live music, face-painting, a dog show, a puppet show, a teddy bear's picnic and so much more.
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Lot's to do in Carrick this weekend – just don't disturb the stags in their natural habitat.
Ballinamore Vintage Day
If you're into old cars and tractors but not too keen on country music, Ballinamore Vintage Day may be just thing for you.
Taking place in St Felim's Grounds on Sunday, June 1, from 12pm to 4pm, attendees can view some of the finest vintage cars and tractors in the region, as well as craft displays, face painting, live music with DJ Johnny McGovern and Kevin Logue, a free children's bouncing castle, an autojumble and much more.
Except to see revellers from the aforementioned Cowboys and Heroes country music festival somewhere along the way.
All proceeds from the Ballinamore Vintage Day will go towards the oncology unit in Sligo University Hospital and Parkinsons Association Ireland.
Glencar-Manorhamilton Mothers and Others cycle to America
Here's a novel one. Cycling to America is impossible, for obvious reasons. That hasn't stopped a group from the Glencar-Manorhamilton Gaelic4Mothers&Others team cycling the distance from Manorhamilton to New York to raise funds for their trip to the States, where they will be the sole Leitrim representatives at annual Festival of Football at Rockland GAA, New York.
The group of 20-odd players will start the final leg of their 4,941-kilometre trip on Saturday, May 31 Osta Café in Manorhamilton.
They are inviting locals to show up on the day to cheer them on or donate to their fundraiser at https://www.gofundme.com/f/boggaun-to-rockland-gaa
Seán MacDiarmada Summer School
'The World Today 'Different Perspectives'' is the theme of this year's Seán MacDiarmada Summer School, which will be addressed by First Minister of Northern Ireland, Michelle O'Neill MLA.
Now in its seventeenth year, Seán MacDiarmada's native Kiltyclogher will again host the summer school named after Leitrim's most famous revolutionary.
This year's even features a keynote address from First Minister O'Neill, with other notable speakers including Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality, Norma Foley TD, and the acclaimed writer and commentator Michael Harding.
The 2025 Seán Mac Diarmada Summer School will commence on Friday, May 30, with the official opening ceremony at 6pm at the Mac Diarmada homestead in Kiltyclogher.
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