Muff Festival – Donegal, Ireland
Muff? Let’s look that up in the dictionary; a short tube like covering of fur etc. into which both hands are thrust from opposite ends to keep them warm! Now that fooled you…I expect some of you had different connotations for it’s meaning!
Ireland’s Muff festival is held in the town of Muff – yes it really exists! It’s starts on the first Friday of every August and must not be missed, this year it’s 3rd – 6th August. This four four-day event is a public party where laughter is the order or the day…flowing as freely as the Guinness! It’s a tribute to everything barmy, and really has to be seen to be believed.
What are the ‘Muffonian’s’ objectives of this four-day event? To make merry, let their hair down, and to ensure that it’s a definite remedy for anyone with low spirits as it plays stage to a mixture of traditional and extremely silly competitions, parades, parties and the excuse to consume copious amounts of beer.
For the more ‘refined’ visitors there is:
- The finest garden competition
- Talent show competition –for the talent-challenged
- Wild Irish Rose competition – the winner heads up the parade on the Saturday
- Family sports
- Bonnie baby competition
- Fancy dress competition
The 2007 grand opening starts on Friday 3rd August at 7.00pm, with the Mayors Parade. Complete with marching bands, community floats, circus and carnival skills and the Wild Irish Rose candidates led by the Mayor.
The bands perform in the car park after the Parade, which also features Dukes of Hazard Police Car, and Starsky & Hutch Car.
At 8.30pm listen to the battle of the bands, and see the final of the Wild Irish Rose competition.
Now for the more amusing events, you may fancy watching:
- Pig racing
- Digger races
- Sheaf throwing contests
- Treasure hunts
- The strongest man in the north-west lorry pulling contest
- Horse shoe throwing contests
- ‘Bull’ riding skills
Just a warning….if you happen to wander into a pub to quench your thirst and look a bit weird – you may be fined £5 or £10 to charity to escape the bar! Some of the pubs become impromptu courts with a judge presiding, so, you can try to talk your way out of the fine……but you will be up against one of the best story telling nations in the world – the Irish!!
Fancy some music? go to a street party, or one of the open-air ceilis for tradition Irish music and dancing.
You’ll be sure of a warm welcome, a barmy few days, excellent food, and go home with aching sides with warm memories of this hospitable country.
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