Jump on the Paddy wagon!

The organisers of this year's Culchie Festival in Ballyjamesduff over the October bank holiday weekend are attempting to create a world record for having the most Paddy Reillys or O'Reillys gathered in the one venue on Saturday, October 24. The Guinness Book of Records will be on hand to witness the event and ensure everything is in order. Organisers Paddy Rock and Brendan Morrissey state that any Paddys, Padraigs, Pats or Patricks have to have their birth certificates with them when they register at the County Museum in Ballyjamesduff. They have been inundated with entries from all parts of the county - the youngest so far is a two-year-old from Cork. This is the second year in succession that the Culchie Festival has come to Cavan, following the success of Kilnaleck in 2008 when Ballyjamesduff native Adrian McCabe was crowned King of the Culchies. He took over the mantle from Kilnaleck man Paudie Clinton. Last year was a double celebration for the McCabe household as Adrian's grandmother Nancy McCabe won the Super Gran competition. As a result of Adrian's success the event is being staged in Ballyjamesduff this year. According to Paddy and Brendan, culchies from all parts of the country will be descending on Ballyjamesduff for the weekend. There will be representatives from Roscommon, Westmeath, Wexford, laois, Carlow, Galway, Clare, Kerry, Monaghan, Kilkenny and three from Cavan (Kilnaleck, Ballyjamesduff and Ballymachugh). They have also secured a spot on the RTÉ 1 radio programme CountryWide with Damien O'Reilly on Saturday, October 24, which will be broadcast live from the County Museum between 8 and 10am. One of the highlights of the weekend is the popular great Honda Step-Thru Run and this year the proceeds will be donated to Cavan branch of the Alzheimer Society as well as Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association. Alan O'Neill, who plays Keith the mechanic in Fair City, will be lending his support to the run, as his colleague in Fair City Mags (Joan Brosnan Walsh) suffers from the disease. The organising duo have secured the services of Fergal Darcy and Mary McGill from i102-104 FM to act as compares for interviewing the culchies. They will also provide the music at night. Any culchie that arrives without an escort will receive one for the weekend. Paddy and Brendan said: "Since we began this event we've had three weddings arising from it with another one on the way. Four junior culchies have been born and another is due on the bank holiday weekend. "We're looking forward to establishing a world record for having the most Paddy Reillys or O'Reillys congregated in one location. We've also established the first ever all-Paddy Reilly band - they made their debut in Murtagh's, Kingscourt, last week. They will also feature on the CountryWide Show." The event kicks off on Friday, October 23 with the arrival of the culchies between noon and 2pm at McCabe's Bar. Later they will select their outfits from Pat Clarke's Menswear and at 3pm the first round of the welling throwing competition is at McBride's, while Getting a Dart takes place in Soden's Bar at 4pm, and Cool Pool in the High Stool at 5.30pm. Later in the evening, the election of the Super Gran is at the Bacon and Cabbage Ball in St. Joseph's Hall at 8pm. Ten grans from around the county will be vying for the top award. They have to bring a packed lunched with them for the culchies. Following the announcement of the Super Gran, the Porkies Party Dance featuring women in wellies and matching culchies with their escorts takes place in St. Joseph's Hall from 11pm to 2am. On Saturday, the town will be flooded with Paddy Reillys/O'Reillys from early morning. The new band will be introduced at 2.30pm and the big family photo of the Reilly clan is timed for 3pm in the town square, beside the statute of Percy French. There will be an award for the old and youngest Paddy Reilly/O'Reilly in attendance. The Junior Culchie Olympics starts at 1pm, while the Kulchie Karaoke is in Reason's Bar at 4pm. Later in the evening, the first round of interviews with the culchies takes place in St. Joseph's Ballroom (9pm) with Fergal Darcy and Mary McGill. This will be followed by the Culchie Fashion Show. Fergal and Mary will provide the entertainment from midnight to 2am. On Sunday check-in for the fifth annual Honda Step-Thru Run is at the mart between 9am and noon before departure at 12.30pm. It will feature little Hondas from all over Ireland, England and Wales. The run will salute the Pumpkin Festival in Virginia at 2pm before arriving back in Ballyjamesduff at 2.15pm. All eyes will be on the Culchie Olympics at 3pm, which will feature welly throwing, potato picking, wheelie bin racing, tractor racing, hammer throwing, turf footing and camel racing. The Junior Culchie will be selected at 4pm and Sunday Session is in Colm's Bar from 5pm. Part two of the culchie interviews commences at 9pm in St. Joseph's Hall and the overall winner will be announced at midnight. Fergal and Mary will once again pose the questions and will provide the music afterward from midnight to 2am. Sounds like great fun, whether your name is Paddy or not...