Hopefuls vie for Blue Jean title
It's that time of year again and plans for the 2005 Blue Jean Country Queen Festival are well under way at this stage. The festival, now in its 18th year of competition, will run from tomorrow to Monday in Athboy, Co. Meath.
The hard working committee, all members of Meath Macra na Feirme, have worked very hard to date to ensure that the festival will be as successful as ever.
Queens vying for the title of Blue Jean Country Queen 2005 will begin arriving in Athboy tomorrow from all over Ireland, along with contestants from France, England and Scotland and this year as far away as New Zealand.
The queens stay with host families in the town who from year to year generously open their homes to accommodate them.
The Festival is officially opened at 8 tomorrow and the entertainment gets started with the queens being interviewed on stage in The Darnley Suite at the Old Darnley Lodge Hotel, Athboy by our award winning TV presenter Hector O Heochagain. The Meath-born comedian/television presenter is guaranteed to make the night one of fun and laughter. Following the interviews the crowd can move on to the disco to be held in the hotel grounds.
of the hotel until late.
Athboy is the place to be on Saturday afternoon as the festival hits the street with a carnival that has something for everyone. The street carnival offers face painting, clowns, magicians, puppeteers, fire-eaters and various sideshows, which will keep the young and young-at-heart happy. The Athboy Accordian Band and other local musicians will treat you to a variety of musical renditions throughout the afternoon. A Karaoke in Floods' Bar will give the queens a chance to showcase their singing talents. Then there is just time to prepare yourself for the night's activities The Saturday night festivities invites you back to the Old Darnley Lodge Hotel where there will be an assortment of bands and venues to choose from. Bog the Donkey plays the Festival marquee while tradition musical group Poitín return to the festival playing the adjoining marquee.
Buck Mulligan's Nite club Meath's premier dance venue- will also be open on the night. All the pubs and bars in Athboy have entertainment organised for Saturday evening.
, so everyone is sure to find something to suit their own individual taste.
Sunday's events are kickstarted with the queens participating in a Superhero fancy dress football match in Athboy's beautifully developed Fair Green at 12.30pm.
The festivities continue for the afternoon on the 'Green' and the theme for this year is 'Superhero Sunday'. There are a number of events organised for all the family and supporters to enjoy that will include a Children's Disco, Face Painting, Kiddies Go-Karting, Adult and Children's Archery and Target shooting and many other side-shows. The afternoon offers free musical entertainment from various bands, including up and coming local band The Tunafish Mafia, and Legacy with the main band for the afternoon being Just Us.
During the afternoon the crowd will have the opportunity to view the first competition of the weekend when the queens model a pair of jeans and an outfit of their choice. This takes place on the 'Green' at 3pm. The winner of the modelling competition receives a voucher from McElhinney Fashions, Athboy, while the runner up receives a presentation from Stauntons' Pharmacy, Athboy.
However no one goes away empty handed as each Queen will be presented with a rose from the Athboy Flower Shop.
With the afternoon activities concluded there's just time for the queens, their escorts, and all their supporters to prepare for what is undoubtedly the highlight of the weekend which is the festival banquet held in the luxurious surroundings of the Darnley Suite in the Old Darnley Hotel. At the banquet the queens will be presented with a memento of their weekend from Paddy Kerrigan, owner of the Old Darnley Lodge Hotel.
Just before midnight there is a quick change into some blue jeans for the queens and a race down to the festival marquee which announces that the moment everyone was been awaiting for has arrived the announcement of the 2005 Blue Jean Country Queen who will be crowned by last year's winner Edel Tullon from Sligo.
The winner will receive prizes to the value of 1,500 sponsored by Carlsberg and the title of 2005 Blue Jean Country Queen. She will be crowned with the festival tiara. The first runner up will receive prizes to the value of 750 sponsored by Farrelly Brothers Agricultural Contractors, Carnaross. The second runner up receives prizes to the value of 300 sponsored by Navan Travel World Choice.
After the presentations it's non-stop dancing into the night with Lightening Strikes in the main marquee and The Three Amigos in the second marquee the latter being popular festival regulars. And, of course, there's the attraction of Buck Mulligans nite club, which will be playing all the best in chart and dance music.
As the festival draws to a close for another year, there is one last opportunity for entertainment with The Old Stagecoach, featuring Matt Leavy and Charlie Arkins playing in the Old Darnley Lodge Hotel from 1 pm on Monday.
the 6th of June 2005.
The people with the unenviable task of selecting the 2005 Blue Jean Country Queen are Dara McCullagh, TV presenter from Ear to the Ground, Fiona O'Brien, journalist with Farm 2, and the festival's very first chairperson and previous judge, Oliver Gilsenan who makes a welcome return to the festivities.
Speaking at the press reception to announce details of this year's festival, committee chairperson, Dara English, had a sincere word of thanks for all our sponsors whose continued support makes the festival possible. She wished the queens all the best for the competition. On behalf of herself and the committee, Dara stated that she looked forward to another very successful festival and to seeing you all there.
Further details contact Josephine
Flattery 087-9926882, Dara English 087-8392032, or Veronica Donohoe 086-2887621.
