At the launch of the Lucan Festival were Cllr Caroline Brady, Joe Byrne, Cllr
Leona O’Toole, Joe Malone, Cllr Shane Moynihan and Cllr Paul Gogarty
10,000 people are expected to attend festival
LUCAN Festival 2024 was launched on Thursday in the local pub Kennys for its 14th edition.
From Monday September 2 to Sunday, September 8, the community will be able to access a wide range of games, exhibitions, and stalls around town.
About 10,000 people are expected to attend, most of them during the weekend.
This year’s novelty is “Murder On Chapel Hill – Lucan Drama”, a play portraying the trial for the murder of local priest James McCartan in the 19th century, and based on authentic court transcripts.
Ready to be staged in Courtney’s Pub from next Monday to next Wednesday, it’s already booked out.
Among the other weekday events, two free walking tours of Historic Lucan Village, a chat between present day primary students and their predecessors with “Bygone Schooldays”, and a three-day chess tournament.
“400 primary school pupils will be there on the Schooldays,” ensured Joe Byrne, the Festival chairman.
“One of the most awaited among the Festival events, the fireworks display at Weir View will kick off at 9pm on Friday, September 6.
“It only lasts about 15 minutes,” said Mr Byrne, “But it’s spectacular.”
On the following Saturday, Lucan House will host the Festival’s fundraiser and will be open to the public for a €6 ticket, with children and adults entertainment and international food samples from eight different countries.
“It’s a way to make our festival more diverse,” said Mr Byrne.
“Year after year, we are trying to encourage people from other countries who recently moved to Lucan to engage in the festival.”
Sunday, September 8, will be the busiest day: from the “Garda Open Day” at 2pm, making the local Garda station open to the public, to the Duck Race on the Griffeen at 4:30pm.
In between, local groups and business’ stalls, puppet and magical shows, more staged plays, street entertainers, balloon making and face painting.
“We started in 2009, with a Festival that lasted for a weekend only.
“Now, we are able to go on for a whole week, and the community engagement has increased year after year,” said Mr Byrne.
