Have you got your Cavan passport stamped?

The production of unique Cavan passports, international pub twinnings and organising a Cavan song contest were just some of the ideas put forward at a public consultation meeting last Thursday on the Cavan Calling festival planned for August 2020.

A huge attendance packed into the Hotel Kilmore for the meeting, which also sought to inform community groups how they can tap into funding to organise local events as part of the tourism initiative.
Community groups can submit applications for funding to stage events. The weekend is being organised by Cavan County Council in association with local groups.
The 'Cavan Calling' festival, which is spearheaded by Cavan County Council, will run from August 20 to 23. Funding totalling €45,000 is available through the three Municipal Districts as approved by the elected members. The deadline for applications for grants is February 28.
The local authority is also putting money into the county-wide initiative.
The cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Cllr Shane P. O'Reilly (FF) said that Cavan Calling is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the Cavan diaspora. “Those people who had to leave our shores and make their fortunes elsewhere; this is an initiative to attract those Cavan people back to the county,” he said.
Mike Hannon facilitated the event, which saw the audience split into brainstorming groups at various tables.
The chief executive of Cavan County Council, Tommy Ryan, said that idea for the festival stemmed from the 2017 Diaspora Strategy, which was developed for the county.
“We don't know how many there are [diaspora]. There are people who left Cavan and people of Cavan ancestry and people who have an affinity to Cavan – an estimate based on other counties would suggest that it could be up to one million who would have some affinity to the county,” said Mr Ryan, who's hoping to reach out to as many of those as possible to reconnect with their Cavan roots.
“Cavan Calling, which is happening in August, is to enhance and to promote Cavan on the international stage, get people thinking and talking about Cavan – that will help build connections with the diaspora,” said Mr Ryan.

Cavan Day

A range of cultural and heritage events are planned across the weekend including the inaugural Cavan Day on Saturday, August 22.
The presentation of a unique Cavan Passport to those who return home for the event as put forward as one such idea for the initiative.
A pub twinning initative was suggested, where hostelries here could host their international counterparts across the weekend.
A word record attempt, Hall of Fame event for successful members of the Cavan diaspora, a business expo and Cavan song contest were also suggested.
Another unique idea was the production of a Cavan calendar, naming each of the 365 days in the year after the reputed 365 lakes in the Breffni county.
A Skype tea party with locations abroad was another proposal.
Given that Cavan is renowned for winning All Irelands in the ancient game of skittles, it was suggested that consideration should be given to finding a similar type game around the globe and making connections with those people.
Mike Hannon said the idea was to convert as many of the ideas put forward on the night into events that would supplement the programme already planned by Cavan County Council.
Social media will be utilised to drive this initiative using the hash tag #CavanCalling.