Mindless vandalism at Dunshaughlin Harvest Festival

Mindless thugs who burned down two portaloos at the Dunshaughlin Harvest Festival on Monday night will not stop the festival going ahead next year.

The Dunshaughlin Harvest Festival Committee has vowed to come back next year, with an even bigger and better festival, despite the wanton vandalism on Saturday and Sunday night. A gazebo which had been loaned to the committee was damaged on Saturday night and on Sunday, two portaloos were set alight with what is believed to have been fireworks and were burned to the ground.

"This put a dampener on things for the entire committee, but we had a wonderful festival - it was very well supported and we had a fantastic crowd," said chairman Kevin Reilly.

"We had the biggest festival ever and it is terrible that a couple of mindless idiots tried to ruin it for everyone."

Mr Reilly said the cost of the portaloos was around €3,000, which means that despite the huge attendance the festival will struggle to break even.

"We were alerted to the fire in the early hours of Monday morning and it was so disappointing.

"We have a great committee and a lot of work goes into the festival.

"We have a core committee of about 25 people, who each have their own volunteers. Every single one of them do great work."

There was a huge attendance at the opening night of the festival when two local acts, Eamon Toal and Electric Lemon took to the stage.

"Saturday was fantastic. We had great weather and huge crowds and even with bad weather on Sunday there was still a very good attendance - our stage was covered and we kept going t 530pm.

"Our new circus big top was a great addition to this years festival, it was weather proof and added to the atmosphere."

Mr Reilly said the committee will now be preparing for the switch on of the Christmas lights and then planning for next year's festival will begin.

"This vandalism does affect our festival, but it will not stop is," Mr Reilly declared.

Cllr Gerry O'Connor who was manning the Dunshaughlin Town Team stand at the festival said the vandalism was disgusting.

"You have a voluntary committee put so much effort in and then this happens.

"It was such a successful festival - there must have been 10,000 people there over the weekend and then you have four or five idiots trying to ruin it on everyone,

"It is very upsetting for the committee and for the community," he said.

Cllr O'Connor said that the incident strengthened the case for CCTV in the park and he will continue to push for its provision.

Cllr Gillian Toole said the Harvest Festival was a brilliant weekend. "What happened Sunday night was a considerable cost on a voluntary committee, but it in no way takes away from what was a brilliant experience. The festival was fantastic and was a credit to the work of the volunteers."