Hair we go: Best beard contest to be highlight of festival comeback

It might put you between a rock and hard place, particularly if you are sporting a fine example of facial hair, as the World Stone Throwing Championship of Corofin is back.

And this time, you can combine the thrill of throwing some of the finest examples of masonry, with the first best beard competition to be held on Irish shores.

The Festival of Finn was held in the Co Clare village for almost two decades and will see a comeback next month with the stone throwing championship one of its main events along with the best beard contest.

Organisers say The Gathering was the catalyst for the festival’s revival this year but that a newly established Corofin Tourism & Traders Association plans to run the festival as an annual event.

“We decided to hold the festival over the May Bank Holiday weekend to incorporate the World Stone Throwing Championships and which has been running here successfully for the past 12 years,” said committee member Gerard Kennedy.

“We are working on the theory that there are many males who are very proud of their facial hair but have they got what it takes to be crowned Ireland’s best beard or moustache champion.”

The festival hopes to be eventually send its Irish champion to the world championships in the US.