Excitement building in Lanesboro and Ballyleague ahead of Gaelforce Great River Swim and family fun day

Excitement is starting to build for Friday and Saturday, May 16 & 17 that has the prospect of being some of the biggest days ever in Lanesboro and Ballyleague when the communities come together along with Gaelforce for should be a fabulous day on the banks of the Shannon. 

Friday evening will be a gentle introduction into what will be a very special day of events on Saturday.

Last year we saw the TidyTowns committees of both Lanesboro and Ballyleague come together to stage, with outstanding success, their inaugural Family Day in the area between the car park and small marina. 

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This year the two committees have, again, come together with the support of all local clubs and associations to join with Gaelforce for what should be an utterly fantastic day on the banks of the Shannon.

This is a day embraced by the community groups and we welcome everyone from far and wide to come along and join us for this very special day.

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For those that don’t know, Gaelforce is a family-owned Irish company, based in Leenane, Co Galway. Their mission is to seek out new challenges to bring the best of adventure racing to Ireland. They design, build and run all their own events. You just won’t find challenges or locations like this anywhere else! 

They have come back to Lanesboro/Ballyleague this year for the Great River Swim that, looking at their entry list, is attracting swimmers of all abilities from all over the country for this great challenge.

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For the Gaelforce Great River Swim there will be four swims over distances of 800m, 3.5km, 5.8km, (you will need to be a confident and experienced open water swimmer to compete at this distance) and the extreme distance of 12km where the race director will determine whether you are eligible to take this extreme distance. See the entry regulations and entry forms on https://gaelforceevents.com/en/gaelforce-events-enter-now  

With everybody coming together this will be, without doubt, another very special day and one of the very best events in Lanesboro/Ballyleague on the banks of the glorious Shannon and there should be something to interest everybody.

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At the moment great work is going on behind the scenes in building the programme of events by the three groups and it will be fascinating. Make the date in your diary and look out for future notices as we draw closer to the main event.

Make sure you mark the dates in your diary and along with your family and friends you can be on the banks of the Shannon for another marvellous day in Lanesboro

On Saturday, May 17 the TidyTowns committees of Lanesboro and Ballyleague are once again coming together to host a family Fun day in conjunction with Gaelforce Great River Swim  on the grassy area next to the children’s playground and they are seeking your backing to make the event massive.

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Last year was the very first joint venture by both committees and it proved to be an outstanding success so much so that they are seeking to go bigger and better in 2025 and this progression can only happen with your support.

To this end local vendors of all sorts are being sought to enhance the event. If you wish to exhibit your creations at your own stall please contact me at joeaobrien@outlook.com phone 086 246 0840 or 33 21107 or call in and leave your name into O’Brien’s shop with Joe or Martina.

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