Mayo town to host busy schedule for biennial Covie Week event

COVIE Week is slipping into view again with proceedings kicking off on Thursday, July 24. The biennial event has seen the past two years flow by so quickly. While the world has all changed, changed utterly, Covie Week will provide a little dusting of beauty. Good companionship is guaranteed. All events are free and everyone is welcome.

A poetry book launch is the opening night feature with the aptly titled ‘Basket of Gems’ by Mary C Reilly. Fellow poet Susan Kelly (The Octagon) will do the launching honours on Mary’s fourth book with music from Michael Halloran and Aisling Smyth. The venue is Matt Molloy’s Yard Bar at 7pm.

Former Mayo News proprietor, the late Joe Berry, will be honoured on Friday, July 25 on the South Mall where Toby Gibbons and his Westport Trout Anglers colleagues host a Junior Fishing Competition and Demonstration. All are meeting outside the Garda Station at 4pm. Fishing gear will be provided for the youngsters. Adults can take a Garland Friday amble up the Reek!

Later on Friday evening at 7pm the Clew Bay Heritage Centre at the Quay hosts an Open Night for all. Artefacts, implements and historical records may be viewed and examined. The current Westport Historical Society annual Cathair na Mart Journal will also be launched.

Departed and much lamented Covies will be remembered at Mass in St Mary’s Church at 10am on Saturday, July 26. Later, the Library will host a ‘Westport – People and Places’ photographic exhibition at 2pm. Pictures include Westport Rugby Club (100 years old) and St Patrick’s Drama Group (60 years old).

Sunday – Reek Sunday – attention is turned to the graveyard in the grounds of Westport House (behind Hotel Westport with entrance via Church Street). Remembrance Hour has been a ‘graveyard feature’ of Covie Week. The ancient headstones of the Demesne graveyard list members of the Browne family and the famous Captain William Houstoun. Hear his story and the stories of those laid to rest in the grounds of the original Church of Ireland, now in ruins.

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Joe McNally (1925-2019), who taught swimming and water safety lessons to hundreds of Covies, will be remembered on Monday, July 28, at 7pm at The Point with a ‘Swim For Joe’. All are invited to take a ‘thanksgiving dip’ on the centenary of Joe’s birth.

Later that Monday evening at 8.30pm, Charlie Keating will host ‘The Friends of Olcan’, an evening of music, song and story in Matt Molloy’s in honour of Olcan Masterson, renowned musician, composer and folklorist, who passed away last year.

Tuesday, July 29, sees Genie Keating, Ollie Whyte, Tanya Whyte and Eddie Browne to the fore with a presentation of old Westport photos in the Town Hall. It starts at 5pm, please note the time! It promises to be an interesting trip down memory lane that will pull on the heartstrings as well as challenge our recall abilities! It will be a really exciting night with a special closing ‘treat’ of a ten-minute clip of … be there!

A free walking tour of Westport town is on Wednesday morning, starting from The Clock at 11am (and every Wednesday during the summer). It is hosted by members of Westport Historical Society and will provide interesting ‘facts and figures’ about the town we love so well.

On Wednesday at 8pm in the Town Hall (upstairs), James Kelly will enlighten all about plans for Westport Courthouse, which is currently under the stewardship of Westport Historical Society. The town centre building will be a great asset for locals and visitors alike. James will outline what facilities are available and all the background work that needs to be done before any member of the public can even cross the threshold!

Proceedings end on Thursday, July 31 from 3pm in Blousers Pub, James Street with ‘Tea, Cakes & Poetry’. Tom O’Grady will host the event (quietly, as is his wont!). He is not expected to break into verse, just be his usual cheerful self, ensuring the kettle is on the boil for those who take the event title literally! Yellow Tops from the angels in Curry’s Cottage will also feature to the sound of Paddy Guthrie, Brendan McKeown and others … enjoy the week.