Community spirit shone at Rathanna village day

THE streets of Rathanna came alive with laughter and community spirit on Sunday 15 June as the village hosted its second annual village day, drawing between 1,500 and 1,800 visitors for an afternoon of family fun.

From 1.30-5pm, the village transformed into a bustling hub of activity, with roads closed from noon (except for emergency services) to create a safe space where families could wander freely and children could play without worry.

The event, organised by a committee headed by husband and wife team Eric and Catherine Osborne of Osborne’s Bar, showcased the very best of rural community life.

“There was a small committee of 12 and over 60 volunteers on the day that helped make it possible,” said Catherine. “Without them, the day wouldn’t be a success at all.” 

The village streets buzzed with local producers selling everything from handcrafted candles and jewellery to plants, homemade jams and locally-sourced honey. But for the children in attendance, the real magic lay in the array of activities designed just for them.

A petting farm, complete with sheep, rabbits, hens, a miniature donkey and a highland cow and calf provided by Mount Leinster Pedigrees, among other local farms, proved irresistible to young visitors. Face painting created colourful queues of excited children, while games ranging from a crossbar challenge and ‘hang tough’ competition to archery and races kept energy levels high throughout the afternoon.

The youngest attendees weren’t forgotten either, with a dedicated toddler play area featuring toy tractors and bales of hay providing the perfect space for little ones to explore safely.

Entertainment came in many forms, from traditional music performed by local group Reelig to an impressive display of vintage tractors. The afternoon’s programming even included demonstrations of traditional threshing and the crowd-pleasing spectacle of a sheep race.

“It’s an opportunity for everyone to come together and celebrate everything that’s good about Rathanna and for the kids to build memories for generations to come,” said Eric enthusiastically.

Perhaps, most remarkably, all children’s activities were offered free of charge, with the event funded through voluntary donations by attendees. Any surplus funds after covering running costs will be donated to local charities.

“The big success of the day was that it was a free event,” Eric explained. “People gave donations as they were coming or going, but all the children’s activities were free.” 

For Eric, the event was a celebration of the best of village life. “It’s quintessentially what rural Ireland is about; it’s innocent, it’s nostalgic and it’s a safe environment where kids are free to run around.”