COFF joins HOFF for double party
Just a month ago plans were put in place for a food festival in Offaly this September.
Now that festival has been joined by a new ten day floating festival, which will take place at the same time.
The Harvest Offaly Food Festival (HOFF) will run from September 13 - 22, the same duration as the Grand Canal Offaly Floating Festival (Grand COFF) that was launched on the banks of the Grand Canal at Ballycommon House by Offaly councillor Peter Ormond last Friday night.
The Grand COFF festival will be run by the Offaly branch of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI) as a Gathering event, and will celebrate canal trading culture with a special focus on the trading families of the Grand Canal.
Speaking at the festival’s launch Cllr Ormond said there are still strong canal links within the Offaly community through both local and dispersed members of the canal trading families living both here and abroad.
He said the September festival will “reflect the present and the future benefits of the Grand Canal through business, pleasure and tourism opportunities”.
The new festival will coincide with the Harvest Offaly Food Festival, which will celebrate all that is good about Offaly produce. Cllr Ormond said the double celebration will offer locals and visitors a wide programme of events and will no doubt be a boost to the Tullamore economy.
At the same launch Offaly IWAI chairman John Dolan welcomed festival support from other groups including the 107B Canal Group, Kilbeggan Harbour Amenity Group, the Tullamore Grand Canal Harbour Group and representatives from both other IWAI branches and the Heritage Boat Association.
The launch was concluded with refreshments made by Yvonne Carty of Hey Pesto and cupcakes complete with iced lifebuoys and water drops made by Linda Johnson of Vanilla Bean Bakery.
The Grand COFF programme of events will include historical exhibitions, a photography competition, talks, beer and whiskey tasting events, heritage boats, cruises and a boat competition with categories including best dressed and best illuminated.
If your family has a connection with the Grand Canal and you would like to be involved in celebrating the trading families of the Grand Canal, you can contact Offaly IWAI by emailing johndolan@iwai.ie.