Destination Daingean!

Daingean is the place to be this weekend, with a Surf n’ Turf event on Saturday and a Medieval Fair on Sunday.

Daingean’s Surf n’Turf event will kick off with a DuAthlon at 11am on Saturday, June 8. Online registration for that event is available at www.daingeantidytown.ie for individuals and teams of runner and cyclist.

Roads in and out of north Offaly will be affected by Saturday’s DuAthlon. Traffic restrictions will be in place from 11am until 1pm. The route affected will begin at Daingean NS and will continue towards Little Island, Mount Lucas, Rhode, Croghan and back to Daingean.

Parking restrictions will also be in place along Church Road and opposite Daingean Town Hall for the duration of the race.

Road marshalls and barriers will be in place at each junction and marshalls will have up to date information as the race progresses.

Following the DuAthlon there will be family fun, with canoeing, kayaking, water zorbing, water polo, music, bouncy castles and a barbecue at the Grand Canal at Castle Barna.

On Sunday it will be time for the Medieval Fair, which takes place at Molesworth Bridge. The event will include a medieval hut put together by local thatcher Mike Davies and will be a community celebration of the canal and Daingean’s heritage.

Features at the Sunday event will include an archery display, a chance to see how a medieval goblet was made, a chicken fair and sheep shearing and blacksmith demonstrations.

The canal will be full of heritage boats, while inside the canal store illustrated lectures on Daingean of old will take attendees back to a time when Daingean was surrounded by forests and only simple paths took locals to Geashill and Monasteroris.

Speaking to the Offaly Independent event organiser Gillian Barratt said there will be more than 35 exhibitors in place in Daingean on Sunday, with visitors able to experience the taste of homemade potato bread or pancakes cooked on a skillet as well as enjoy a journey around Daingean in a horse drawn cart.

“Hey Pesto” from the Offaly Delicious food network will also be in attendance, giving a demonstration on using food foraged from along the banks of the canal.

The fair will be opened at 2pm on the day, and attendees are invited to dress for the part on the day.