Taken from The Southern Star published on August 7th, 1993

Festive atmosphere was not dampened, however !

Just as the opening parade for the Dunmanway Welcome Home Week & Belle of Ballabuidhe Festival was ready to roll on Sunday evening, the rain — once again — poured down forcing locals, visitors and returned emigrants to run for shelter.

While it remained a wet and dark evening, the festive atmosphere, however, was far from dampened and as the evening progressed it was not the people who were saturated but the many pubs and hotels.

Loyalty, curiosity and a love for Cork's funniest comedian Billa Connell, who officially opened the festival, saw families sheltering under covered stands while others bravely dotted the town square — some with umbrellas; some without.

Led by Carrigaline Pipe Band, the parade included veteran and vintage cars, members of local clubs — Doheny's Ladies Club, the under-12s and under 14s (county finalists) and various floats — the most decorated of which safely delivered all fifteen Belle contestants to the stage.

Beautifully dressed in chic evening wear, the girls, some from places as far away as Boston, London and Birmingham, were introduced onto the stage by festival P.R.O. Donal O'Driscoll. Thanking the Gardai for organising the traffic and making sure everything went smoothly, he added, "we can control anything else, but we have no control over the weather, unfortunately."

After the Carrigaline Pipe Band played the "National Anthem" — festival chairman, John McCarthy, on behalf of all committee members, welcomed all the Belle contestants to the town. "I welcome all the overseas guests and our special guest, Billa, and hope you all enjoy a wonderful week."

SPONSORS

Mr. McCarthy also paid a special word of thanks to all the festival sponsors "especially Murphy's Brewery, who are the overall sponsors of the Festival and also sponsors of the Belle of Ballabuidhe competition. Without them, it would not be possible to organise a festival of this size," he added.

Conscious of the heavy rain all speakers were brief. Canon Forde welcomed back all the town's emigrants and added: "I hope everyone will have an excellent week. Relax and enjoy it."

"Welcome to the annual Ballabuidhe flood," laughed Rev. David Catterall: "You know it is a great credit to this town to continue to stage so much good craic no matter what the weather throws at it. It will make you all even happier now and hand the microphone to someone else," he concluded.

Before the Belle contestants were individually introduced to the public by Billa, who was, as always, in 'top' form with loads of stories to tell, two formal presentations were made on stage. Rev. David Catterall handed over the festival chain of office of the Dublin Doheny Association to Mr. Con O'Driscoll.

And, the annual 'Hall of Fame' award for 1993 was presented to retired Senior Executive Engineer from Cork County Council, Mr. Flan Cleary. Before presenting Mr. Cleary with a fine piece of Rynhart sculpture, Senator Michael Calnan MCC, told of Flan's great work in the Dunmanway area over the years.

Before long, Billa Connell had the crowds leaving the bar counters and putting their heads to the doors. And, as he individually introduced the girls on stage, people seemed to forget it was raining so heavily.

"Could you do anything with this ?" Billa asked hairdresser Leona Ahern from Midleton as he patted his bald patch. "Not really." "You're a lovely girl," he told Carrigaline's Elaine Condon.

Bantry girl Cathy Dullea was told her boy friend must be mad. "Did he really two-time you last weekend ?" Billa asked in disbelief.

Billa's main concern was to find out if the girls were courting or not: "Are you doing a line at the moment ?" he asked the girls. Galway's Belle of Ballabuidhe contestant, Anne-Marie Francis, was told she was "looking gorgeous." A sales assistant in a jeweller's shop, Billa admired her gold earrings and necklace — "I bet you borrowed them for the weekend," said Billa.

"Excuse me now Canon," said Billa, as he kissed London Belle Mary Hopkins, "but this is what I get paid for."

"Nemo Rangers only hammered ye to-day," Billa told Skibbereen contestant Pauline Lynch, a secretary with Cork County Council. "And what's more, the score was bigger than the attendance," he joked.

"You know my uncle," Rebecca Neville from Bandon told Billa. "You mean Mick the Barber," the baldy guy — Gosh I do well." Birmingham's contestant Sharon O'Callaghan from Buttevant told Billa she has been living there for the last five years.

Meanwhile, it was Dublin girl Suzanne O'Connell's first time in West Cork and she "loves it." Ann O'Donovan representing Clonakilty said she was at a disco one night and some one put her name in to go forward as a contestant: "I'm from just out the road near Drinagh," she told Billa.

Cork's Fidelma Murphy from Blackpool is a supervisor with Atlantic Homecare: "My boy friend is living in Bristol." "Excuse me now Canon, but how do ye communicate ? . . . . And what do ye do when ye are on ye're own, so to speak," Billa asked.

Macroom's girl Karen O'Donovan from Glen Park is also "courting" — "He's a merchandiser for 7-Up," she told Billa.

Valerie O'Driscoll was chosen to represent her home town Dunmanway three weeks ago in Gatsby's nightclub. "I'm sort of courting," she said.

IRISH DANCE

Boston contestant Robin Brovercal said she in turn was chosen at an Irish dance. "My mother was born in Bantry," she told Billa. Niamh Scanlon, Waterford's contestant said her aunt was responsible for her being in the competition.

"Go on give us a verse of 'The Banks,'" the crowd roared as Billa declared the festival officially open.

"Ye are getting ye're money's worth alright," he laughed.

And, after a few more stories, Donal O'Driscoll, P.R.O., once again thanked all the sponsors and all who helped in the organisation of the parade, especially Larry O'Sullivan, John O'Brien, Joe Healy, Christy Collins, Fonsie O'Driscoll, and soundman, Bill Crowley.

The fifteen girls now contest the final of the Belle of Ballabuidhe competition, this Thursday evening in the Parkway Hotel. Compere for the night is popular RTE man Derek Davis of 'Live At Three' fame.

"Escorts, you too have a wonderful time," laughed Donal. Festival chairman John McCarthy added, "hopefully, and again we are very much dependent on the weather — everyone can look forward to a great festival barbecue this Sunday evening in the town square."

On that note, the Belle contestants, committee members, guests, locals and visitors found warmer corner indoors. "Tomorrow will be a drier day," said one local who was looking forward to placing a bet at the races.

Dunmanway Notes

THE 1993 Dunmanway Welcome Home Week and Belle of Ballabuidhe Festival will conclude on Sunday night next, August 8.

This Thursday, August 5, St. Fachtna's Silver Band lead the parade, with the "Belle of Ballabuidhe" contestants, from St. Patrick's Hall to the Parkway Hotel.

At 9 p.m. the big event will get under way.

The outright winner here will be the recipient of a cheque for £1,000, courtesy of Murphy's Brewery (Ireland) Ltd. At this banquet and dance, RTE's "Live At 3" star, Derek Davis, will put the fifteen "beauties" through their paces in special personal interviews, live on stage.

An 'Irish Night' will take place at East Green on Friday, starting at 8 p.m. Here there will be solo step-dancing competitions as well as set-dancing displays.

St. Patrick's Hall will be the venue on Sunday for both the baby show and the art competitions, which will start at 2 p.m.

There will be a disco that night at Gatsbys.

The final day of the festival on Sunday, at 2 p.m., sees the start of the family day at Sam Maguire Park.

The programme here will include athletic events, as well as Macra capers, presented by Dunmanway Macra Club.

The vintage rally from the Parkway Hotel to Gougane Barra will get the 'off' at 2.30 p.m.

The final of the festival pub soccer at Chapel Street will be at 7 p.m., after which the ceremony of the presentation of cups will take place at An Toisin.

 The barbecue, in the town's main square, will get under way at 7.30 p.m., together with 'Beat on the Street', with the music being supplied by Ozone Friendly.

And then at 11 p.m., the final festival disco takes place. McFadden's amusements continue nightly.

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