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23 Oct 2025

Rose of Arranmore Festival makes a welcome return after 17 years

The first day in quarter a century took place on Arranmore Island on Bank Holiday August weekend

The Rose Of Arranmore Festival made a welcome return after 17 years on the August bank holiday weekend. It started off with angling at Aphort and Pollawaddy on Friday.

On Friday night there was a great event at the community centre interviewing the roses and their escorts. Hugh Nancy Rodgers was the MC for the occasion. There was private interviews by judges backstage.

Music was by Declan Gallagher and a jazz band from Dublin called Jawbone. Declan was in a band on the island called The Castaways in the 1960s. On Saturday there was a sports day and fair day at Rannagh. It was over 25 years since there was a fair day on the island.

Despite the bad forecast the weather was great for during the 3-day event. The final of The Rose Of Arranmore took place in the beautiful setting of the shorefront in Leabgarrow. Brian Proctor was voted by the Roses as escort of the year 2023. Erin McCafferty was chosen by the judges as The Rose Of Arranmore.

Both Brian and Erin were representing CFFAM. There was a great sports day and regatta on Sunday the final day of the festival. There were individual and team time trials for skiffs. A women's and men's tug-of-war on the beach took place on the island. 

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