1,000 caps, a thousand dances and millions to do at Hollywood Fair 2016!
Vintage fun and style has made an incredible comeback in community themed events in recent years in Ireland.
And Hollywood Fair has clearly maximised on the current trend as it hosted it sixth successful festival last weekend. The committee set about it this year, with a mission to make the Guinness Book of Records. Calling on all children, women and men, the organisers invited visitors national and international to come wearing a traditional flat cap or caipin and blow the former record of 280 persons wearing flat caps in anyone location.
Did it succeed? With only one thousand numbered tickets for persons donning the caps, they had secured the record long before 3pm as several thousand guests arrived at the pre 1950s festival sporting a flat cap.
With the record firmly secured, guests of all ages set about dancing on the street to an impressive line up of lively trad artists and of course, the Ballymore Eustace Concert Band, always a favourite with the crowds. Rain held off until late in the afternoon but even then, the wet climate failed to dampen the mood of vintage revellers as children of all ages, adults and senior citizens continued to set dance, watlz and boogie into the late evening!
The sheep competition drew contestants from near and far, generously sponsored by Patrick Lawler, Wool Merchant.
Demonstrations and skills exhibitions kept young and old enthralled all with thatching work, break and butter making, basket weaving, horse shoeing, wood turning and stone cutting amongst many of the live displays. Hollywood Community Centre remained open throughout Sunday's activities with home cooked goodies served, whilst visitor enjoyed the photographic exhibition. Outside, traditional stew was served, with 1950s games, a re -enactment from WW1, farm animals with Stonebrook Pet Farm and Willie Daly, match-maker from Lisdoonvarna all adding to the vintage festival fun.
Saturday's event included a traditional Latin mass preceded by a parade and a high nellies slow bicycle race after mass was celebrated.
Our feature photograph shows members of the Kavanagh, Flood and Hayes families from Counties Kildare and Wicklow with special guests Edyta Matchett from South Africa and Natasha Warren from New Zealand making the trip especially for the event. Clearly, the rain undeterred young and old alike.