Soaking up the Spraoi and the rain
Washout weekend sees top attractions cancelled amid another deluge
Monday August 06 2007
FOR those who weren't lucky enough to get out of the country, there was more misery over the weekend when many events were cancelled due to dire weather conditions.
Hopes of a sunny bank holiday period were dashed when it rained relentlessly in most parts of the country, forcing those who had spent a year planning events to pull the plug on them.
In Wicklow, a massive air display planned for Bray was put off while the National Steam Rally in Stradbally, Co Laois was cancelled for the first time in its 43-year history.
The Dun Laoghaire horseshow, which was due to take place today, was called off after the grounds became water-logged.
What was to be the largest ever air display event at the Bray Summerfest in Wicklow was postponed due to the weather.
Headlined by the Irish Air Corps, the display has been rescheduled for September 2, when it will also feature the Irish Army's Black Knights parachute display team.
The National Steam Rally in Stradbally, Co Laois was cancelled for the first time because the Stradbally Hall site for the event was too wet.
"It has rained for 20 hours solid onto the ground here so we had no option because of all the machinery moving on it," Joe Deegan, rally secretary, said.
"We were expecting 35 steam engines alone as well as tractors," he said, adding that an estimated crowd of 15,000 would have turned the grounds into a quagmire.
In the Phoenix Park, the Farmleigh Affair music festival was cancelled because of the downpours.
Crowds of about 15,000 people were expected at the Dun Laoghaire horse show in Shanganagh today but the event was called off as the arena had become water-logged.
Spokesman Breasal O Caollai said the last time that the horse show was called off was due to the foot and mouth alert in 2001.
Even sporting fixtures didn't escape unscathed with the Kildare's senior hurlers delayed on their journey to Croke Park for the Christy Ring Cup final because their team bus got stuck in floods.
Met Eireann forecasters have predicted further heavy rain in many areas with a risk of flooding in the midlands, east and south. "Showers will become heavy over the western half of the country tonight," said a spokesman. "Widespread showers will continue tomorrow and will be heavy in many areas, with a risk of thunder."
It is expected that Tuesday will be bright with sunny spells and scattered showers.
Wednesday is forecast to be mostly dry, with sunny spells and light variable winds. Rain is due to come frm the Atlantic on Wednesday, leading to scattered showers on Thursday. However, the weather did not stop all of the bank holiday fun.
In Waterford, thousands enjoyed the three-day Spraoi 2007 Street Festival, although some of the events were marred by bad weather for most of Saturday, resulting in some bands and events being moved indoors.
Overall, however, the driving rain failed to dampen the spirits of the thousands who made their way into the city for the annual festival.
The highlights of the festival included the Irish premier of 'Storm Bringer' at Lombard St, a large scale, theatrical event fusing fire and water with a tempestuous finale. Last night at 10pm, a convoy of wagons, stagecoaches and a full scale western style theme train ran through the town.
The final parade was put back from 9.30pm to allow traffic, returning from the replay of the All-Ireland hurling quarter-final match at Croke Park, to clear the bridge into the town.
- Shane Hickey, Ciaran Murphy and Senan Hogan
