Westmeath Bachelor Festival team reveal big news!

The Westmeath Bachelor Festival will replace the Fleadh Cheoil in 2024 and run as a week-long Festival in Mullingar.

The organising team have confirmed that news this afternoon, and teased some of the details for the 2023 event.

This year’s competition is on Saturday July 29 at Mullingar Arts Centre, and “some high profile names in national television production” will attend with a view to bringing the event to a TV audience in 2024.

The organisers said: “We are excited that Louis Walsh and Anne Doyle are back on our judging panel, and we are eternally grateful to Louis, who has opened so many doors for us over the last year.

“This starring duo will also be joined by two more A-list celebs at this year’s event,” said Tomás Nally on behalf of the organising committee.

They won’t say who the other judges are yet, but they want to hear who the people of Mullingar think they might be (comment on social media if you have any thoughts on that).

The 2023 event is close to the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in the calendar, so there won’t be a concert at part of the Westmeath Bachelor Festival.

Instead, the organisers are in negotiation with a number of high profile performers and hope to have a concert in the town centre in September.

Details will be released once confirmed.

“After some constructive talks with Westmeath County Council and other stakeholders, we are delighted to announce that The Westmeath Bachelor Festival will replace the fleadh in 2024 as a week-long festival in Mullingar,” said Shane Barkey from the organising committee.

“Our aim has always been to make Mullingar the main destination nationally as a town centre festival and we have some extensive plans for 2024 in order to achieve that.”

Highlights of those plans are:

• A Beef to the Heels Food Festival. The town’s finest restaurants will be asked to compete against each other with signature beef dishes. They will be judged by a celebrity chef and panel who will crown a local beef hero.

• Food and craft markets in Mullingar Town Park.

• Pub of the Town Crown. The pubs of the town will compete in: The Barman's Race, three-legged race, tug-o-war and other events to be crowned victor.

• Tug-o-war will include local gyms and clubs and have male, female and mixed teams. Get training!

• Mardi Gras on the main streets of Mullingar.

• Other: film screenings, drama and spoken word events, busking, dog shows, tea party and multicultural events.

• The week will culminate with The Westmeath Bachelor Competition and music festival with the highest profile bands nationally.

(All events are subject to the relevant licences and permissions, yet to be agreed).

Shane and Tomás said: “We would like to take this opportunity to again thank Westmeath County Council, Westmeath Community Development, Leader, An Garda Síochána, local TDs and councillors, local media, our contestants and especially you, the public, who supported us so well last year and made the event the huge success it was.

“We hope that you will again back us this year in order to make this festival the envy of every other town in the country. Please follow our socials and local media for further information.”