If you captured a shot of the fancy dress or any or the other events this week you would like to see immortalized, send it to photo@ernefestival.com and we’ll put it up on the site.

It was a fine day for the newly crowned lady of the erne, Amanda Breslin (from South Fermanagh) to bring watch the crowds for the 2008 Festival of the Erne.

Is it a bird?? Is it a plane??? No, it’s ………. well, you’ll just have to wait till Monday 4th August to find out what ‘it’s’ all about!!A one of display never before has the likes been seen in these neck of the woods!

Wonder, awe and mystery are the themes of the 2008 Festival of the Erne and as always the hard working, highly inovative Festival Committee have come up with some crackers to surprise and delight vistors and folks of Belturbet town.

Well it’s been a week full of spills, thrills and not that much dry weather. Despite the occasional downpours, we had record crowds this year for some of the events. We are busy going through our snaps of the week and will be posting a gallery shortly. In the meanwhile send any of your pics to photos@ernefestival.com and we’ll be sure to upload the best ones onto the site as well.

Thanks to everyone for attending and to all the committee for their hard work in organizing all the events.

Well done to our new Lady of the Erne, Sinead McTernan representing Donegal.

She will be present during the Festival so be sure to pass on your best wishes to our 2007 winner.
Born in London, Sinead moved to her mother’s native Donegal when she was three years old and is our Donegal Lady tonight. Sinead is currently studying professional cookery at the Tourism College, Killybegs and we are told she’s a top hand in the kitchen having won a Gold Medal and Overall Winner a the Regional Cookery competitions in October 2006, not to mention three Bronze Medals in the RDS…so move over Jamie Oliver! Besides cooking, Sinead loves attending concerts and festivals.

We have posted profiles and pictures of this year’s entrants in the Lady of the Erne section. Good luck to everyone on Friday!

2007 sees the 31st year of Belturbet’s Festival of the Erne so hold on to your hats as this year promises to build on last year’s success! Due to popular demand some of the top-class events returning this year include, The Fancy Dress (adults and child), raft-racing, wakeboarding, row-boat racing, floats parade, angling competitions and arts and heritage acitivites.  Watch out for the Scouts ‘Sunset Sunrise Overnight Camp’  on Wednesday 1st August.  Start your preparations for the Scarecrow competition and Best Kept Garden, so throw on thoes dancing shoes and prepare to be swept away!! 

Here’s a taster of what to expect from Belturbet’s 10 day Festival of the Erne:

• Angling contests
• Dog Show
• BonnyBaby
• Busking
• Sporting competitions including golf, football, atheletics
• Dancing, music and singing every night
• Street Theatre
• Fancy Dress
• Quizzes
• Teddy Bear’s Picnic
• Beat-on-the-Street
• Raft race
• Treasure Hunts

For Children
Fancy Dress, Junior Talent Competition, Treasure Hunt, mobile cinema, teddy bear’s picnic, pyjama party, Face Painters, Scouts Jamboree and lots more.

For Sport Enthusiasts
Major Course Angling Competitions, rowboat racing, Sports Day, Football leagues, Golf Tournaments, Bowling Competition.

For Thrill Seekers
Check out the Helicoptor Rides and Wakeboarding display at the Lawn Jetty by National Champion. Pig Racing, Self-made rafting contest and a whole lot more!

For Chillaxers
Art Exhibition of scenes from around the locality, art and crafts fair, Heritage walk of the town, music nightly across the town, featuring traditional Irish, rock, pop, jazz, soul and Samba!

For The Show-offs
Annual Fancy dress Fri 3rd August. Samba band & Mummers will kick start the night!!! Also includes Iron-stomach contest, wellie-throwing, milk-drinking competition.