Kells Market Day to see wide variety of stalls and activities

A traditional market day will be held in Kells again this July as part of the Kells Heritage Festival. Farrell Street and surrounding streets will be closed for the day for what promises to be a fun family day on Sunday 3rd July. Last year's market day drew thousands of people to the streets of Kells, and after a windy and rainy start the sun came out and it was a fabulous day and traders who opened their doors that day had a successful trading day. The Kells Market Day will see large number of arts, crafts and artisan food stalls, as well as a farmers market, family fun, street entertainment and livestock displays. It is hoped to recreate an old market day in Kells like those that continued in the town until the 1960s. As well as arts, crafts and livestock, there will also be home-baking, vegetable stalls and other attractions. This year Kells Chamber of Commerce and Kells Tourism Forum are again inviting artisan food producers, artists and craft workers, street theatre groups and tourism providers as well as anyone that has something on interest to display to participate in the market day. This year's focus will be on old world and vintage cars, trucks and implements. There will also be two stages for traditional music and dancing and other fun events include pig racing, old time demonstrations, a famine pageant by Kells Musical and Dramatic Society, street dancing and traditional music, rock bands, hip hop dancing, animal displays and sales. Kells Tourism Forum has enlisted the help of a large team of volunteers including help from the following clubs and bodies, ICA, Kells Blackwater FC, Kells Chamber of Commerce, North Meath Rugby Club, Moynalty Steam Threshing, Drumbaragh GFC, Kilmainham GAA and Gaeil Colmcille. Application forms for those wishing to participate can be downloaded from www. kellsmarketday.com, or email info@kellstourismforum.com. You can also phone (046) 924 0055 or (085) 163 6453. The market day will be prt of the 20th annual Kells Heritage Festival which will run from 24th June to 3rd July. The festivities will begin with the launch of the Pink Ribbon Walk art exhibition in McKeowns on Friday 24th June. The Heritage Arts Group will then launch their exhibition in the Edmund Rice Centre on Saturday 25th June. A music festival, featuring ten bands will take place in the Railway Bar on the Friday night and proceeds will go to Frans Trek to Tibet in aid of the National Council for the Blind. During the week there will be pavement art, a children's fancy dress competition, a performance by the Kells Musical and Dramatic Society, the Smith and Foley Dog Show and a screening of the 'Pirates of Penzance' in Iona Hall. There will be a children's play date on Saturday 2nd July at the Fair Green, which will include bouncing castles and karting.