Newcastle Goes Into Overdrive

The lull before the stormer…

e’ve been trying to pull together all the various shindigs and shenanigans going on over in Newcastle this coming week for some time now…

Problem was, every time we thought we had a complete list, another feckin’ event would be announced.

So, right here, right now, this is what those wily village people have lined up for Newcastle Community Week, running from August 19th to 26th. And it may, of course, be subject to change.

On Saturday 19th, the Alan Stringer Tennis Final will take place at 2pm in the community centre, for adults and juniors, and it will be followed by a BBQ along with the prize-giving.

Indoors that day, the centre will host a Community Expo from 2.30pm to 6.30pm, bringing together all the businesses in the area.

On Sunday 20th, there’s a guided walk as part of Heritage Week, with Dominic Byrne and Yvonne Whitty, meeting at the community centre at 2.30pm. After the walk, Chris Corlett and Dr. Paul Naessens will offer a historical and archaeological take on the story of Newcastle.

On Monday 21st, Tuesday 22nd and Thursday 24th, there’s a children’s camp, ages 5 to 8 from 10am-12pm and ages 9 to 12 from 1pm-3pm, costing €5 a day.

Also on Monday 21st, there’s yoga, sound bath and meditation with Roisin at 6.30pm in the community centre.

On Tuesday 22nd, there’s a Ladies Craft demonstration from 11am to 1pm at the centre, whilst at 6.30pm at the Newcastle GAA pitch, there’s Mothers & Others with the notorious Éire Óg gang.

Wednesday 23rd starts at 10.30am with an ecumenical service at the centre, followed by tea, coffee and gossip, whilst in the evening, the joint will be rockin’, as some Adult Social Dancing For Adults from 8pm to 10pm.

Thursday 24th, the centre gives itself over to Bumper Bingo at 7.30pm, whilst the great outdoors is where it’s at on Friday 25th, as Professor of Botany at Trinity, Jenny MacElwain, heads a nature walk at 6.30pm through the BirdWatch Nature Reserve.

Wrapping up the week on Saturday 26th, it’s the Newcastle Parish Hollywood Fair from 12pm to 4pm (at the Newcastle Parish Centre, of course), followed by the all-ages Newcastle GAA Dualathon at 12pm, and finally, the Duck Race & BBA from 5pm at The Castle Inn.

Not sure if you have to bring your own duck for that one.

You can find out more on the Newcastle Community Centre website here, and their Facebook here, or get in touch with them directly on email here or phone here.