Fun and craic at the Bogman’s Ball
Johnny Howard, Pauline Lalor, Louise Moorehead, Eilish Kavanagh, John Kavanagh and Gretti Lynch at the Old Bog Cottage
Great fun and craic were the order of the day at the latest edition of the annual Bogman’s Ball!
On the afternoon of Friday 30 August, the Bogman’s Ball was held in Martin’s of Kildoon and was a fantastic affair with plenty of people of all ages turning out for the festivities. Our photographer Jimmy Fullam popped along to capture it all on camera!
At 1pm a manual old-time form of turf cutting demonstration with sleáns took place on Shillelagh bog – on the Kildoon-Tully road – showing the talent of cutting, catching, wheeling and spreading the wet sods from the bank, as in bygone days.
The queen and king of the bog were chosen for their skills, and the winners were revealed and crowned later that night.
A raffle was held in Martin’s of Kildoon in conjunction with the Bogman’s Ball that Friday. Prizes comprised €200, €100, ten bale of briquettes, a tonne of turf and other prizes, all kindly sponsored to benefit Nurney/Kildangan Care of the Elderly.
Fresh from their raucous live shows at both Glastonbury and Black Deer festivals earlier this summer, members of the Irish Passport Band appeared at The Bogman’s Ball under the name Murphy’s Law. Father and son Des and Jonjo Murphy were joined by their Greek Cypriot cousin and fiddle player Andrew Hubbard. They played a selection of Irish session standards along with a few Pogues numbers. Des’ father Andy Murphy grew up in Offaly Street in Athy, and with his brothers and sister he played lead trumpet in the Sorrento Dance Band.
Another familiar favourite in the Oldbog Cottage was there too. The eye-catching attraction journeyed from Kildoon to London earlier this year for St Patrick’s Day. It’s a mobile, interactive working depiction of a traditional Irish cottage from the last century.
Well done to all involved in organising another fantastic and memorable affair.
