Sheaf pitching and sean-nós dancing in Tipperary on Sunday
Turn back time with sheaf throwing in Killea
The village of Killea outside of Templemore will revive the traditional lifestyle of almost 100 years ago, when the community takes a step back in time for its annual fun day along with the Margaret O’Sullivan Féile on Sunday, June 21.
Once again, the day will be officially opened by the Thomas Mac Donagh Pipe Band of Templemore, with the highlight of the day a national sheaf pitching competition for the Rory O’Dwyer Memorial Cup. The competition is in memory of the late Rory O’Dwyer of Currabaha, Borrisoleigh, who was a legendary sheaf pitcher and friend of the organising committee.
Irish and sean-nós dancing will feature during the popular Field Day, to be held in conjunction with the hugely popular Margaret O’Sullivan Féile. Children will be admitted free of charge to Killea sportsfield as a welcome gesture from the organising committee, who are hoping for yet another sunny day for their eagerly awaited annual event. Face painting, bouncy castles and music will all be free of charge, and there will also be sheep racing.
A local celebrity will be there to judge the Elegant Lady competition, one of over 30 events all designed to stir some nostalgia among older Tipperary people, and to raise cash for local causes including Killea National School, Killea GAA, the Tidy Villages, and Killea Community Centre. There will be music, song and dance all day from 1.30pm to 5pm, and events will include set-dancing, figure-dancing, horseshoe-throwing, pillow fights, skittles, penalty taking, pony rides, stock-judging, sheaf pitching, a dog show, darts and a tractor run at 12noon.
There will be a shop and canteen in operation with locally baked confectionary and homemade colcannon. A local ladies committee are in charge here, and there will also be a barbecue on site. Participants from the County Tipperary Fleadh Cheoil in Roscrea are expected to feature among the many musicians who will entertain the attendance, as well as the talented 200-member music class in Killea.
Matt TheThresher himself would surely have approved of it all, as would Charles J Kickham, author of Sliabh na mBan, our Tipperary ‘anthem’, which was so splendidly played on piano by former Late Late Show musical director and Thurles man, Frank McNamara in the Source Arts Centre, Thurles
The officers of the organising committee are chairman, Michael Duff, secretary, Jim Hamill, and the treasurer, John Fogarty.