By Mairead Moriarty (pictured)

THE ‘festibal’ is just around the corner and it won’t be long before the streets of Tralee are teeming with crowds, soaking up the atmosphere and hoping to catch a glimpse of the Roses.

Those of us who grew up with the Rose on our doorstep, year after year, have great memories of the limitless opportunities offered to us by the festival.

Here are some of the things that some of you may remember with fondness from times gone by!

1. THE ‘BAZAAR’

The ‘bazaar’ was the cool place to be any given night of the week.

And I’m talking about when it used to be in the car park next to the old cinema near Ivy Terrace and you could walk there, even on your own if you were allowed!

Whether you sneaked down there with your friends – when you told your ma you were ‘only going to the cinema’ – or if you were brought there as a treat before going back to school the following week, the bazaar was the be all and end all.

We stuffed our faces with candy floss and coke and then wondered why we were sick after getting off the ‘Orbiter’.

2. STRAND ROAD CAMPING SITE

They would come from far and near to pitch their tents in the football field in Strand Road and would be heard singing well into the wee hours of the morning.

They were having the craic messing about by the monument across from the Bons and making every dog bark along the way! But sure it was harmless and we loved it all.

There was a bit of life around the place and the winter was long and quiet enough!

Continued below…

3. FIREWORKS

How lucky we were to be allowed to stay up late enough to watch the fireworks after the Rose had been selected!

And if you were even luckier, you were brought to town to see them! We felt as if we were living in New York with all the lights in the sky and the whole place was lit up.

Even peeking at them out the top window of the attic was enough to set any young heart a flutter and realise how lucky we were to live in such a wonderful town.

4. TERRIER RACING

As a Strand Road girl I have great memories of the terrier racing all along the road. All the neighbours would bring their dogs in the hope of beating all the rest!

The proud dog owners were only delighted to have the banter with each other and sure the craic was mighty! Our dog Blackie was hopeless though.

He would only be itching to get off the lead and get away, not to run the race, but to run after any of the more ‘scented’ females of his species!

5. LIVE MUSIC

Everywhere you turned a corner there was music. If it wasn’t a new band or even some well-known band, it was a guy with a guitar singing his heart out.

He wasn’t even looking for money really (although I’m sure he wouldn’t have refused it at the same time!). All he wanted was an audience and even if it was a gang of gurriers messing about dancing along, sure at least he was attracting a crowd of some sort!

6. THE WANTED POSTERS

We all remember the guy who had the stall outside Dowlings who would print your picture on a cowboy style ‘WANTED!’ poster.

We thought it was so cool! In the days before Instagram and Facebook, here it was possible to get our picture taken, be seen instantly and we loved it!

It was like magic and our dads had great fun making funny faces behind us!

7. THE FORTUNE TELLERS

Well, we were sure she was going to tell us exactly how our lives would turn out and all the gory details about the Prince Charming we were so sure that we would meet!

We were scared, of course, before we ventured into the tent, but also filled with excitement. We were amazed at how she was able to tell us such things about ourselves – things that turned out to be not so extraordinary really!

We grasped onto whatever we liked and still managed to leave with our hopes and dreams in tact. We didn’t even know the meaning of cynical!

So here’s to fond memories of the festival and hoping that as adults we can make the festival as fun for our own kids!