Rhode Parish Gathering weekend has arrived

The Rhode Parish Gathering kicks off today (Friday, May 3). Beginning with a welcome for friends and family coming home from overseas, the weekend event will include a visit from Olympian Kenny Egan, the crowning of the Gathering Rose, an 88km run and two attempts to break world records.

This morning Scoil Brid in Croghan will celebrate 50 years, before Beijing Olympian Kenny Egan arrives to meet students taking part in a school Olympics event in Fr Dowling Park in Rhode and lead them as they carry the Olympic torch from Killeen’s car park in Rhode to Fr Dowling Park.

Also taking place today is the much anticipated attempt to break the world record for the most people taking part in “Rock the Boat”. At present the record stands at 1,428 people, but Rhode is hoping to blast past that with some 2,000 participants at approximately 5pm this evening. An opening ceremony celebrating local talent and featuring local musician Brendan Keeley will follow that attempt, while a Macra reunion with an Elvis theme will also take place on Friday night.

Tomorrow morning (Saturday) will begin with a second world record attempt - this time for the most Vikings on Croghan Hill at 10.30am. the Croghan Hill Challenge 5k will take place at 11am, while the 10k will take place at noon followed by the beginning of Rhode GAA Club’s 125 year celebrations in the form of a senior football championship match in Fr Dowling Park at 4pm.

Cemetery Masses will take place in Croghan at 6pm on Satuday and in Rhode at noon on Sunday. The Gathering Rose will also take place on both days, with the first heat in O’Toole’s on Saturday and the final taking place on Sunday night in Killeen’s.

On Sunday an ESB reunion will take place, while over the weekend the Clonmore Harps will celebrate 25 years since their reformation with a 12km run, a sports day, a 6km walk and the Clonmore 88 - an 88km run that will see Niall Murphy jog seven 12km laps from 8.30am on Monday and finish at approximately 5.30pm the same day.

There will be a beat on the street on Saturday and Sunday evenings at 7pm, and Ruaile Buaile will perform at the closing ceremony.

The Rhode Parish Gathering is mostly free, but cover charges will apply at the Saturday match and both Gathering Rose events. Some road closures will be in place and parking may be restricted.

The road from Tubberdaly Cross to Rhode village will close for 15 minutes on Friday to allow the Olympic school march to take place and the R400 from Rhode school to the village will close from 4pm until 7pm on Friday. There will be no parking in the village centre over the weekend. A car parking plan will be displayed in the information centre in the village however and where possible shuttle buses will operate from designated car parks.