Lough Rynn Harvest Festival returns with vintage flair, country music, and community spirit

The 29th annual Lough Rynn Harvest Festival & Vintage Day will take place on Sunday, September 7, bringing a full day of vintage displays, children’s activities, live music, and local food to the stunning grounds of Lough Rynn Castle Hotel in Mohill.

Festival chairman John McGuinness says the event has “gone from strength to strength” and is now a key date on the national vintage and country music calendar.

“It’s really a number of shows rolled into one,” he said. “We have vintage cars and farm machinery, threshing, trade stands, children’s amusements, trampolines, an auto jumble, street theatre, and a fantastic food village. And of course, the castle grounds themselves are worth a visit – it’s a stunning setting.”

One of Ireland’s leading country singers, Patrick Feeney, returns by popular demand to headline the evening entertainment.

“Patrick was hugely popular last year and people have been asking us to bring him back,” Mr McGuinness said. “We expect to be dancing the evening away again this year.”

The festival attracts visitors and exhibitors from across Ireland, with a particularly strong contingent from Northern Ireland. Accommodation options include Lough Rynn Caravan Park, just 500 yards from the festival, as well as the hotel itself. Shuttle buses will run from car parks to the festival grounds.

All proceeds go to Bornacoola Community Development, which funds local groups such as the GAA, youth clubs, active age groups, and drama societies.

“Every penny raised goes back into the community,” Mr McGuinness said. “The community centre is heated, lit, and available free of charge for any group in the parish that wants to use it. That’s possible because of this festival.”

Organising the event is no small feat, especially as it follows a wedding at the castle the day before.

“We have to set everything up on Sunday morning and take it down by Monday afternoon,” he explained. “But we have fantastic volunteers – practically every able-bodied person in the parish is involved in some way.”

Gates open at 12 noon, with the dog show at 1:30pm and the bonny baby competition at 3:30pm. Visitors can enjoy threshing demonstrations, trade stalls, a country market, children’s amusements, face painting, full bar facilities, craft demonstrations, street theatre, and a bustling food village alongside the display of vintage cars and machinery. Admission is €15 for adults, €8 for students, and free for children. For more information or to book a stall, contact 086 3407 643, email loughrynnharvestfest@gmail.com, visit www.loughrynnfestival.ie, or check out the festival’s Facebook page.