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Turfman brings fun to Ardee on Bank Holiday weekend
By Gene Yore
THE Ardee Turfman Festival will once again bring music, colour and fun to Ardee this August bank holiday weekend.
Last year the committee received an overwhelming feedback from the public and this year the Festival committee has organised guided tours of Ardee Castle during the festival.
After the success of last year's festival the organisers are expecting that this year will be even better.
Some of the events last year included abseiling off the castle, turf footing in the Green, an art exhibition in the castle, treasure hunt, soccer blitz, duck derby, Ardee in days gone by film show, and much more.
This year we plan to include old time dancing, floral exhibition, open air music recital, French food market and a fun-run organised by the athletic club.
Leonie Conroy from Reaghstown is the Festival Queen. Eighteen-year-old Leonie works part-time at The Station jewellery shop and is studying mid-wifery at Dundalk Institute of Technology.
Leonie really swayed the judges in the Festival Queen finals with her poem on the greatest football robbery of all time.
The final in Muldoon's was a real Rose of Tralee affair. The girls had male escorts whose tuxedos were provided by O'Neill's Menswear and Paul Sharkey.
Leonie is big into GAA and will really get stuck into things by abseiling down the Castle walls, starting the 10k road race and generally making sure people have fun.
Leonie's dresses will be provided by Industrial of Market Street and Emma's Touch are providing the hair style.
The festival's main sponsors are Louth Leader, the company that backs local enterprise.
Other sponsors are: Ardee Post Office, Caffrey's Bakery, Deli Store, Look Alive Saloon, Malone's Texaco, Finlay's newsagent, The Bailey, Brian Muldoon's, Chinese Palace, The Station jewellery.
The Ardee Concert Band, current All-Ireland champions, will organise a band recital which will involve five top bands from the region.
"St Mary's GFC will hold a huge seven-a-side blitz," said committee member Karen Duffy, "and the athletic club will also be in action during the festival.
"There will also be a 10k run with all proceeds going to Ardee Home Hospice."
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Weather for Dundalk
Thursday 17 May 2012
Today
Heavy showers
Temperature: 7 C to 11 C
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Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
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