HUNDREDS OF hardy souls braved freezing conditions to participate in the curtailed traditional charity and festival events on Christmas Day and yesterday.
While many events fell victim to the weather, some of those who have participated for many years in the traditional swim at the Forty Foot in Sandycove, Dublin, were not deterred by minus 7 degree temperatures on Christmas Day.
Swimmers also turned out for the traditional swim at Lough Arrow and at Rosses Point in Co Sligo; Muckross Lake, Killarney and Banna in Co Kerry; the Old Head of Kinsale and Garristown in Co Cork; and Creevy Lake, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan.
Although the Goal Mile at Bel-field, Dublin, was cancelled on Christmas Day, the event did go ahead at other venues. Taoiseach Brian Cowen was present to encourage those who participated in the event at the Tullamore Harriers stadium, despite a temperature of minus 13 degrees.
The Wren Boy celebration went ahead in Sandymount, Dublin, yesterday, although the traditional entertainment from a stage at Sandymount Green had to be cancelled. The celebrations focused on music and song in Ryan’s pub, with the money raised going to the Order of Malta maternity hospital in Bethlehem. Lord Mayor of Dublin Gerry Breen attended.
“As usual, there was great bonhomie,” said Tom Ahern, one of the event’s organisers for the past 26 years. “We had a successful event, despite the restrictions.” The Wren Boy festival, in Dingle, Co Kerry, will be held today.
Most of the Wren Boy events scheduled for east Mayo, west Roscommon and south Sligo yesterday were cancelled.
In Galway, the Salthill-Knocknacarra GAA club’s John Joyce Sevens was called off yesterday morning when the pitch was deemed unplayable. It was the first time in 12 years that the tournament, which honours a legend of the city club, was not played.
A similar fate befell the Ardagh GAA club, as members awoke to scenes of blanket snow in Mayo.
“I think we all just looked at it and realised that there was no way we could actually play it today. It’s a pity because it isn’t something that can really be rescheduled as people are only home for a bit,” said David Murphy, a regular of the singles versus couples match held each year.
Other regular events that had to be cancelled or rescheduled included walks for charity in Ballintubber and Knockcroghery in Co Roscommon, where underfoot conditions were very dangerous.
Peter Flaherty, who helped organise a similar event called the Turkey Walk at Annaghdown, Co Galway, said icy roads put paid to the event.
“We also had no water in the community centre, so we have decided to try it all again on the third of January,” he said.
In west Co Galway, however, one long-standing tradition did continue despite truly horrendous conditions. For over 40 years the people of Moycullen, on the edge of the Gaeltacht, have played an outdoor basketball tournament for the right to add their name to the Jim Lee perpetual trophy.
“Well, we played it last year on what was basically a court of ice, so I think there was no way we weren’t going to do it this year,” said John Cunningham, who has been involved since 1986.