Narraghmore barbecue was another huge success

THE VILLAGE of Narraghmore came together recently for its annual community barbeque that saw almost 200 people chow down with friends and neighbours.

The annual even was organised by the Narraghmore Community Development Group from the village, and the Kildare Nationalist spoke to its secretary Esther Magera.

“It’s not a fundraiser as such, more of an event to bring the community together,” she said.

“To fund the event, we’d have a raffle, and we get some money from Kildare Credit Union, and the meat comes from Crowe’s Butchers in Crookstown. The money from the credit union makes all the difference.

“It’s a brilliant day out, but it’s always important that it stays free to get the community together. We’ve run it now for the last seven or eight years, maybe longer!” she laughed.

The event started at 3pm, and “though it was a slow start, it just took off”.

“I’d say there was about 200 turned up.

“It’s just a bit of a pot luck – we provide the meat, and the people bring salads and folding chairs. Foróige in the village ran some games for the kids like balloon toss and sack races on the green at the back of the band hall. There was even a boules competition – there was plenty going on.

“The last people left around 8pm, and there was not much left, but it always goes to good homes if there’s any leftovers,” she said.

So what’s next?

“We might do something for Halloween, but we always have a Santa event every Christmas. We’ll also do the Pink Run for breast cancer, and the Darkness into Light for Pieta House.

“It’s a lovely community and people come out in force. Our last project was the redevelopment of the tennis court, and our next project is a sensory garden behind the band hall, where we had the barbecue.

“We have a very active, positive committee, and it’s a pleasure to be part of it,” she said simply.