Launch of King Rory O’Connor Park

By Robert Grace

PREPARATIONS are ramping-up for the Run of the Mill Festival in Tuam, taking place on Saturday, October 6 at The Little Mill.
The festival is being held as part of the relaunch of King Rory O’Connor Park, with a host of fun and educational activities set to take place throughout the day.
It all begins at 10.45am with the official launch of the park. At 11.30am Michael Waldron of Tuam Tidy Towns will lead a two-hour heritage walk and talk from The Little Mill to St Mary’s Cathedral, Temple Jarlath, Market Square and Shop Street, finishing back at the park.
At 1.30pm, Lumberjacks will serve free pizza down at the Mill and there will also be complimentary tea or coffee, while local group Cairdeas le Chéile sing Irish ballads.
At 2pm there will be a short re-enactment of The Battle of Tuam by local children, after which artists, poets and musicians from the area will read poetry and prose and sing songs.
Nature, taxidermy and art exhibitions will take place throughout the day in the Miller’s House. Galway County Council’s Wildlife Ranger John Higgins will be on hand to answer any questions about wildlife in the area, and Catherine Peale of Irish Waterworks will talk about all associated with the River Nanny. There will also be an area for children to do arts and crafts.
All events on the day are free of charge. The activities will come to a close with a speech by Michael Waldron at 3pm.
The event is the culmination of years of effort by local volunteers and conservation experts that began in the early 1970s.