14
Go Ancient East Summer Edition
Things to see and do in MEATH Blue Jean Country Queen Festival, 31st MAY TO June 3rd
The Blue Jean Country Queen Festival was the brainchild of Patrick Farrelly, a member of Carnaross Macra na Feirme. After several visits to The Rose of Tralee, Patrick was so impressed by that festival that he wanted to start a similar festival in Meath. The very first Blue Jean Country Queen Festival took place in June 1987. It included many of the elements that would become mainstays of the festival to this day, including the queens’ onstage interviews, fashion show, fancy dress football and the Gala Banquet. Since 1987, many new elements have been added including the Saturday Carnival and Craft Fair, Sunday the Lark in the Park which have opened up the festival to the entire local community. It has also seen plenty of celebrity involvement from guest MCs like Brendan Grace, Ray D’Arcy, Hector Ó hEochagáin. bluejeanfest.com
Kells
Bellewstown Races 3rd to 6th of July & 28th and 29th of August
Horse racing at Bellewstown Racecourse, on the Hill of Crockafotha in Co. Meath, is beautifully situated with magnificent views of the Mountains of Mourne to the north and the Irish Sea to the east. The tradition of summer racing at Bellewstown dates back centuries and the first record of racing here appears in the August edition of the Dublin Gazette and the Weekly Courier in 1726. This superb one mile and one furlong left handed course, in a truly unique location, features both flat and hurdle racing. Bellewstown Races are synonymous with top class racing, wonderful summer evenings, family entertainment and ladies day races which add to the fun. www.bellewstownraces.ie
The town of Kells in County Meath is one of the highlights of any tour of Ireland’s historic Boyne Valley. Boasting great religious significance, Kells Monastery originally included four high crosses built in the 9th century by the monks of St Colmcille’s of Iona, Scotland in 804. The famous Book of Kells was completed at the monastery, which also features a round tower. The 9th century sandstone Market Cross, known as the “Cross of the Gate” has carvings which signified that a fugitive could claim sanctuary once inside the boundary of the monastic area. The South Cross, or the Cross of St. Patrick and St. Columba is closest to the roundtower and thought to be the earliest of the Kells crosses. Standing 3.3 meters high, it is carved from a single block of sandstone. Visit Kells in Co. Meath to examine the details of these monuments to the monastic age of Ireland.
Meath County Crafts
Meath County Crafts is housed in Trim Visitor Centre which is one minute’s walk from King John’s Castle. The centre has an excellent audiovisual show about the medieval past of Trim and Co. Meath. Meath County Crafts stock a huge range of crafts from the Boyne Valley region and the rest of Ireland, North and South. Many makers are Crafts Council of Ireland approved. The range includes pottery, leather, textiles, metalwork, ceramics, jewellery, wood, soaps and much more. To visit the workshops of some of the Meath craft workers, it is advisable to make an appointment prior to visiting. clancybrothersfestival.com
