Presented by Mr Tommy Mc Guire, Castleblayney Community Enterprise

1. Muckno Mania
Festival

2. Origins
The Muckno Mania Festival was introduced
by Castleblayney Community Enterprise as
a one day event back in 1999. Following
its success that year the Festival was then
extended to a three day event.
The Muckno Mania Festival is now in its
13th year and continues to include a
varied programme which is designed to
provide family entertainment and also to
enhance public awareness and
appreciation of the Arts.

3. Aims
The aims of the Festival are to promote &
stimulate community interest in art,
culture & sports so as to enhance cultural,
social & economic development within the
community. The organisers of the Festival
are always keen to broaden participation
in the events and therefore the Festival
Programme includes a variety of activities
aimed at all sections of the community.

4. Festival Name
The title of the Festival which includes the
word Muckno is in reference to the scenic
lake Muckno and the parish of Muckno. The
lake took its name from a story which tells
how a Saint Maeldoid tried to build a
Monastery on one side of the lake but had
to change his plans when a Black Pig
emerged from the lake to knock down the
walls each night. The lake was then called
Muc Snàmh which is the English for the
swimming pig. However poor English
pronunciation back the years translated it to
Muckno.

5. Wilbert the Pig
In 2007 the Committee decided to
create a corporate logo for the
Festival which would make it
synonymous with the event.
Eventually they identified and
adopted an image of a pig in a
bathing suit holding a micro-phone
which represents both the legend of
the lake and depicts the Festival
Programme of Entertainment. In a
school competition Erin Brady named
the pig Wilbert and he is now widely
used in all Festival promotional
material.

6. Wilbert the Pig Competition

10. Committee Make-up
The Muckno Mania Committee is made up of:
 5 Castleblayney Community Enterprise
Board Members
 18 Local People from different ages and
backgrounds
 Over 50 volunteers help out on the
weekend.

11. Art Content
The entire Muckno Festival
Programme deliberately combines
popular fare with serious artistic
content which is designed not alone
to enhance public awareness &
appreciation in the Arts but also to
provide a diverse programme
whereby more & more people
experience the arts. There is a very
varied Art content throughout the
entire Muckno Mania Programme.

14. Key Items
 Festival Queen
 Guinness World Records
 Cultural Fair
 Triathlon
 Soap Box / Float Your Soap Box
 Stars in Your Eyes
 Fun Day Sunday
 New Creative Activities

15. Festival Queen Competition

16. Festival
Queen
2012

17. Smurfs –
Guinness World Record 2008

19. The Flintstones –
Guinness World Record 2010

21. Hulk –Guinness World Record
2012

23. Cultural Fair

25. Triathlon

29. Festival Finances
 Grant Aid
 Arts Council
 Monaghan County Council
 Castleblayney Town Council
 LEADER
 Festival Fees
 Sponsorship
 Local Businesses
 Pub Sponsorship

30. Chamber of Ireland Access Award

31. REHAB Award

32. REHAB Award

33. Chamber of Commerce

34. Impacts
 Local Involvement
 Community Spirit
 Town Promotion
 Tourism Promotion
 Economic Benefit to local Community
 Harnesses Good Will

35. Festival Strengths
 Varied Programme
 Track Record (13th Year)
 Good Will
 Dedicated Committee
 Castleblayney Community
Enterprise

36. Castleblayney Festival
Network

37. In 2010
 Conscious that there were groups within
Community running events and activities
that were very similar in nature and using
similar resources

38. Member Groups
 Castleblayney Drama Festival

40. Pipe Band Competition

43. Castleblayney Chamber of
Commerce – May Day Parade

46. Muckno Mania Festival

50. Castleblayney Show

54. Bog Snorkelling

57. Possible Benefits
 Joint marketing and promotion
 Joint fundraising
 Central administration office
 Sharing of resources e.g.
equipment
 Idea sharing and assisting each
event to become more successful
 Funding applications

58. Group Undertakings
 Met Stakeholders
 Bookmarkers
 FÁS Job Placement
 Variety Concert
 Application To LEADER

59. Half Page Ad

60. Programme Books & Fliers

61. Calendar

62. Pop Up Stands

63. Aluminium Stand

68. Barriers

70. Cones

71. Corporate Flags, Street
Banners, P/A

72. LEADER Funding at 75%
 6½ Pages in Northern Standard €6,300
 6 x 7 Day Advert on Northern Sound €3,654
 Programme Book and fliers €6,218
 2011 Annual Calendar €3,993
 Seven Pop up Stands with graphics €4,840
 6 Aluminium road sign stands €1,975
 36 (8ft x 4ft) Road Signs €1,990
 40 control barriers €1,920
 100 Cones €1,983
 24 (10ft x 2ft) Street Banners €1,430
 20 Corporate Flags €1,600
 1 Outdoor PA System €1,940
€37,843

73. Financial Details
 LEADER Funding 1st Phase €11,296
 LEADER Funding 2nd Phase €17,074
LEADER Total €28,370
 Matching Funds 25% €9,455
Overall Total €37,825

74. Weaknesses
 Need for a lead partner
 Additional workload
 Weak groups in consortium
 Buy in poor

75. Benefits to Date
 Increased awareness of events
 Increased numbers attending events
 Professional approach to promotion
 Greater synergies amongst groups
 Members supporting each others event