10,000 attend Tallafest
By Hayden Moore
ANOTHER year, another massive success for Tallaght as the community linked together to celebrate Tallafest – with an estimated 10,000 people attending the festivities.
Now in its seventh year, the festival attracted people from all different walks of life with over 80 organisations including businesses and community groups, 150 volunteers and thousands of people from the surrounding area filling Tallaght Village on Saturday afternoon.
Organisers delighted with response from local community for this year’s festival
With so many attending the festival, which is organised by Tallaght Community Council (TCC), there was a magical sense of community spirit as people were reminded of what makes Tallaght so wonderful.
A 100-year-old tram from the National Transport Museum returned to the Main Street in Tallaght for the first time in decades. It could be found throughout the day at The Station at Molloy’s – the original Blessington tram stop in Tallaght.
Crowds carpeted the streets and were entertained by different singers, musicians and entertainers on the stage outside The Dragon Inn by the likes of The Walkeleles and Xquisite Dance.
Chair of Tallaght Community Council, Liz Kennedy spoke of how “extraordinary” the event was as a whole.
“The fact that everybody involved is working together; the local businesses, community groups, civil defence, stall holders, entertainers – and everybody is in such good form, the atmosphere is amazing,” she exclaimed.
“There is nothing else that brings this many people together to Tallaght Village, it is just the most extraordinary community spirited event.
Miriam C, Miriam D, Jackie, Deirdre and Triona enjoying an ice-cream at Tallafest on Saturday
“The volunteers did a great job. We had volunteers from Dublin City Volunteer Core, South Dublin County Volunteer Core, local schools and community groups, friends and family and of course the Civil Defence. In total we had 150 volunteers who were based out of the volunteer centre in Molloy’s.
“A special thanks to An Garda Siochána and in particular to the community gardai at Tallaght Garda Station for the way they made Tallafest 2019 feel like a safe place to be.”
Tallaght Town AFC hosted the Tallafest Soccer Blitz, with the Club Chairman Alan Merriman speaking to The Echo after the event.
He said: “It was fantastic, that’s the second year in a row now that we’ve held it, eight local teams took part.”
With Tallaght Town entering three sides, their black-stripped team lifted the cup while Kilnamanagh AFC won the shield.
“There was a lot more interest this year with clubs calling me from all over, it was a great tournament. Each player got a medal and there was great joy for everyone who took part in the tournament.”
As the event wrapped up, PRO of TCC, Tara de Buitlear spoke to The Echo aboard the tram about how well the seventh edition of the festival went.
She said: “I can honestly say its been one of the most enjoyable days I’ve ever spent in Tallaght and from speaking to people in the crowd below, everybody is having just an amazing, amazing day back in our historic village.
“A huge thank you to all of the volunteers, all of the businesses and all of the families who came out and made such an amazing day here in the Tallaght community and we look forward to doing it again in 2020.”
See page 45 for full list of the sponsors of Tallafest and pages 58-61 for pictures from the event.
TAGS Tallaght
