Families had a ball at Ardattin community day
Ruby Caffrey, Angel and Saoirse McDonald and Zola Feegen were pictured at the Ardattin NS and Community Development Group's BBQ at the Ardattin Community Hall. Photo: michaelorourkephotography.ie
DELICIOUS food, lots of activities and great company was the order of day in Ardattin recently as the community got together for a very special event.
A community barbecue was organised by Ardattin Development Committee and Ardattin National School, an opportunity to bring people together and create a real sense of community spirit.
The event was held in the grounds of the local community hall and it was a sigh of relief for all involved when the sun kindly obliged and shone all afternoon!
“Ardattin Development Committee was reformed last year and its members felt that after Covid an event that would bring people of all ages back together and get that real sense of community would be a good idea, so they asked us to join in and we were delighted to,” said Laura Vance, principal of Ardattin NS.
“It was not necessarily a fundraiser but rather a community event and it went really, really well, we had way more people than we’d expected, which was great,” she enthused.
The community received funding from Carlow County Council to purchase a barbecue, so that was duly fired up on the day, with wonderful donations of meat from local butchers, while so many donated delicious salads and desserts.
There was a sit-down meal for all, while children played a host of outdoor games, enjoyed the face-painting or got a fresh new look at the nail/tattoo bar, which was very popular spot all afternoon.
One of the real highlights of the day was Ardattin’s Fittest Family, where old rivalries came to fore, as families battled it out for the coveted title.
Obstacle courses and favourites like ‘hang tough’ had everyone gripped, but it was David Donohoe’s family that saw off the challenge set of all in a nail-biting finish. Special mention, too, to Bríd Fitzgerald, who impressed all when she managed to last over four minutes on hang tough.
The raffle saw lots of great prizes up for grabs donated by local businesses and individuals while people also generously donated to the collections buckets in aid of the school and the community group.
Local people were delighted to welcome cllrs Charlie Murphy, John Pender, Will Paton and former cllr John Murphy as well as general election candidate Catherine Callaghan.
It’s going to be a busy year for everyone at Ardattin NS as they set their sights on major developments at the school, including a new playground.
As part of the funding effort for this project, the school will hold a concert starring popular country music artist Michael English in the Church of the Most Holy Rosary, Tullow on Sunday 1 December at 7.30pm.
Funds raised will go to Ardattin NS Playground Development Fund and tickets will be on sale shortly.
