Denis Lehane: Dunmanway goes Intergalactic
Dunmanway, Cork, Ireland. 02nd June 2024. Tusken Raiders taking part in the parade at the Feel the Force Festival which took place in Dunmanway, Co. Cork over the bank holiday weekend. -David Creedon
Dunmanway went Star Wars crazy on Saturday. I was there to witness the whole thing.
I was only in town to pay a ration bill and had never intended to be a spokesperson for planet earth.
But such is life, one minute you are talking about beef nuts to a supplier, the next you are directing a Stormtrooper to the town square.
Anyhow, with the feed bill sorted for the bullocks, I decided to look after myself.
So, I went to the nearby Teapot Cafe for a bite to eat and a sup of something warm to drink. And as I sat down, who should wander in the front door only this fellow who introduced himself as Chewbacca.
"What are you doing in Dunmanway?" I asked and it was the right question to ask. I needed to know, and the people of planet earth certainly needed to know.
Star Wars you see, is supposed to be based in a Galaxy far far away, whereas Dunmanway is only 20 minutes as the crow flies.
He told me he was there to make peace with some other feuding faction.
"Give peace a chance," I roared, quoting from the gospel according to the great Lennon himself.
I offered the hand, and the hairy lad accepted it too.
Long story short, the town was alive and kicking with all things Star War because of local couple Nuri Albakri and his wife Caroline.
It was their love of all things to do with Star Wars that had Dunmanway rocking like a faraway planet.
The town was buzzing and in the throes of a festival called 'Feel The Force Dunmanway'.
And insane as it all sounds, crazy as it might seem, it looked like a mighty event.
I was only sorry I wasn't wearing something a bit more galactic than a pair of worn-out wellingtons.
On Saturday morning I told my intergalactic friend all about the hard-working farmers of West Cork and of the great silage that we are now making.
He was impressed.
I told him about the trouble we were having with derogation rules, and he mentioned that the very same thing had happened on his planet.
"The bureaucrats of Brussels have a lot to answer for Chewbacca old friend," I moaned.
The big guy shed a tear too, not only for the underpressure farmers of west Cork, but for farmers the world over, and beyond.
"My dear man," says I attempting to lighten the mood "try one of these Dunmanway
made fruit scones, they will put hair on your chest."
And in fairness to Chewbacca he did just that, and he brightened up from that moment on.
Once the scone had gone down the hatch; Chewbacca had nothing but high praise for Dunmanway and it's people.
The town and it's inhabitants were safe.
"Take some scones home with you too, big man." I recommended. "It will shorten the journey."
And with that a few Dunmanway scones were tucked away for the journey back to God knows where.
Then on behalf of farmers everywhere, I wished him well, in English and of course in Irish too, just to cover all bases.
Last weekend, Dunmanway was heaving with beautiful galactic princesses and hairy old individuals, it was like Ballabuidhe horse fair only without the horses.
The devil himself was there in some guise, I suspect. Every villain under the sun, every hero who ever discharged a laser gun was represented in some fashion.
All were there enjoying the wonderful summer sun, and celebrating Star Wars madness like only a west Cork town could.
