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Sunday 26th June, 2005
2.00 p.m. Derby Day 140th running of the Irish Derby at the Curragh Racecourse Featuring 20 years Budweiser Irish Derby Sponsorship 7.00 p.m. Open Air Disco with the fantastic Kymnila Kelly Market Square 8.00 p.m. Open Air Concert featuring Super 70's and the Classic Beatles Market Square
Posted by spurcell at 04:34 PM
Saturday 25th June, 2005
2.30 p.m. CURRAGH RACES Featuring Pretty Polly Stakes with Fillies and Fashions 7.00 p.m. Open Air Disco with fantastic Kymnila Kelly Market Square 8.00 p.m. Open Air Concert with Meatloaf Tribute Market Square 8.00 p.m. Open Air Concert with 'Your A Star' Pete Fagan & Band Market Square
Posted by spurcell at 04:31 PM
Kildare Derby Festival Committee
Chairman Ollie Kearns heads a hard working committee of about 12 members.
President Florrie Harrington is a founder member and remains the back bone of the committee.
The executives include Ass Chairperson Mary Kavanagh, Secretary Fiona Reid, Ass secretary Phil Braiden, Treasurer Maurice Heffernan, assisted by Phil Braiden. PRO Fiona Reid, assisted by Sally Purcell.
Other members are Liam O'Keeffe, Doreen Delaney, Kym Domnican, Seamus Maher and Evan Arkwright.
Posted by spurcell at 02:36 PM
Friday 24th June, 2005
2.00 p.m. Inside/Outside Art Exhibition to 8.00 p.m. by Clare Blennerhassett in Aras Bhride 2.00 p.m. K.C.S. Art Exhibition to 8.00 p.m. in Aras Bhride 5.30 p.m. Curragh Races & Funky Friday 9.30 p.m. Blue Square Night with Hector with Boogie Nights
Posted by spurcell at 04:03 PM
Thursday 23rd June, 2005
2.00 p.m. Inside/Outside Art Exhibition to 8.00 p.m. by Clare Blennerhassett in Aras Bhride 2.00 p.m. K.C.S. Art Exhibition to 8.00 p.m. in Aras Bhride 8.00 p.m. Residents Council Senior Citizens Night Day Care Centre 8.00 p.m. My Choice and Yours Classical Music Evening with Liam O'Keeffe in Aras Bhride 9.00 p.m. Darts Night Various Pubs
Posted by spurcell at 03:59 PM
Wednesday 22nd June, 2005
11.00 a.m. French Market to 8.00 p.m. in Market Square 12.00 p.m. Open Air Bus Tour (for details contact Phil Braiden Phone:087 6315549) 2.00 p.m. Inside/Outside to 8.00 p.m. with Clare Blennerhassett in Aras Bhride 7.30 a.m. Bessie Byrne Charity Walk starts in Market Square 2.00 p.m. K.C.S. Art Exhibition to 8.00 p.m. in Aras Bhride 9.00 p.m. Darts Night Various Pubs
Posted by spurcell at 03:44 PM
Tuesday 21st June, 2005
11.00 a.m. French Market in Market Square 2.00 p.m. Inside/Outside Art Exhibition to 8.00 p.m. with Clare Blennerhassett in Aras Bhride 8.00 p.m. K.C.S. Art Display 8.00 p.m. Hayden Lectures with Paud O'Connor St. Joseph's Academy 9.00 p.m. Darts Night Various Pubs
Posted by spurcell at 03:39 PM
Monday 20th June, 2005
11.00 a.m. French Market Market Square 6.00 p.m. Bowls Competition CYMS 7.00 p.m. De La Salle Awards Night in CYMS Hall 7.00 p.m. K.C.S. Art Competition Launch and Prizegiving in Aras Bhride 7.00 p.m. Inside/Outside Art Exhibition with Clare Blennerhassett in Aras Bhride 9.00 p.m. Darts Night Various Pubs
Posted by spurcell at 03:34 PM
Sunday 19th June, 2005
11.15 p.m. Grand Opening in Nolan's Lounge for invited guests. The Festival will be opened by Minister for Environment, Dick Roche 11.30 p.m. Paddy Flanagan Memorial Cycle Race, commencing at 11.30 in the Market Square 1.15 p.m. Derby Festival Parade from St. Brigid's Park to Market Square 3.00 p.m. Family Fun Day in St. Brigid's Park 7.00 p.m. Open Air Disco with the fantastic Kymmila Kelly 8.00 p.m. Open Air Concert in the Market Square with Die Laughing 9.00 p.m. Open Air Concert in the Market Square with Dublin City Ramblers
Posted by spurcell at 03:10 PM
Friday 17th June, 2005
Kildare Derby Festival Queen Finale Compere: Noel Shannon from KFM. Music by: Kick Back. Special Guest: Vicky Cahill 8.00 p.m. in Stand House Hotel, Curragh Admission €20 inc. 3 course meal 
Festival Queen Participants 2004 at the Japanese Gardens
Posted by spurcell at 03:03 PM
Kildare Derby Festival Queen Finale
Compere: Noel Shannon from KFM. Music by: Kick Back. Special Guest: Vicky Cahill 8.00 p.m. in Stand House Hotel, Curragh Admission €20 inc. 3 course meal Festival Queen Participants 2004 at the Japanese Gardens
Posted by mheffernan at 05:30 PM
Irish Derby Celebrates 141st Birthday
What a pleasure it is to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the Budweiser Irish Derby. The Anheuser-Busch sponsorship over two decades has seen its popular American beer become synonymous with the flagship of Irish racing. Since Budweiser began its sponsorship of the oldest Irish Classic in 1986, its roll of honour features many of the outstanding champions of their generation. Sharastani (1986), Kahyasi (1988), Generous (1991), Commander In Chief (1993), Sinndar (2000), Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002) confirmed their ability to defeat all-comers round Epsom's tricky contours and then on the testing Curragh Plains. 
In completing this elusive Derby double these recent winners joined an elite initiated by Orby (1907) and augmented by Santa Claus (1964), Nijinsky (1970), Grundy (1975), The Minstrel (1977), Shirley Heights (1978), Troy (1979) and Shergar (1981). The 57 year interval between Orby and Santa Claus, spanning two World Wars, is easily explained. Although in continuous existence since 1866, the Irish Derby had never carried sufficient prize money or prestige to tempt connections of Epsom Derby winners to lay reputations on the line at the Curragh. 'Boss' Croker had been the sole exception, determined that his adoptive countrymen be given the opportunity to applaud a home ground success for the first ever lrish-trained winner of the Epsom Derby. The Irish Sweeps Derby was destined to change all that. Its introduction in 1962 revolutionised Irish racing. With £30,000 added by the Irish Hospital Sweepstakes, the Irish Sweeps Derby became the richest race in Europe. From being a provincial consolation classic the Irish Derby was transformed into the most glittering prize this side of the Atlantic. The brainchild of racing supremo Joe McGrath, the Irish Sweeps Derby was brilliantly publicised and promoted by his Sweeps partner, Spencer Freeman. Lester Piggott's association with the race is famous. Meadow Court sparked memorable scenes in 1965 when joint-owner Bing Crosby thrilled the huge crowd with his impromptu rendering of 'When Irish Eyes Are Smiling " while he was the darling of the crowd when winning on Ribocco, favourite in 1967, only to be demonised the next year when riding Ribocco's full-brother Ribero to defeat the apparently invincible and long odds-on Sir Ivor, hero of the 2000 Guineas and Epsom Derby. Poor Liam Ward gained consolation two years later when the imperious Nijinsky swept him to victory, at the immediate expense of L, Piggott on Meadowville. In 1984 Ireland's greatest race was styled the Joe McGrath Irish Sweeps Derby, when Vincent O'Brien's El Gran Senor made amends for his agonising Epsom defeat by Secreto, trained by David O'Brien, Vincent's son. However, the Curragh showpiece had by now fallen conseiderably behind its Epsom counterpart in value. The pending crisis called for initiative. Turf Club CEO Cahir O'Sullivan provided it, with the timely announcement that henceforth Anheuser-Butch of Milwaukee would sponsor Ireland's greatest race. The effect was instantaneous. HH Aga Khan's Shahrastani laid his Epsom laurels on the line at the Curragh for what was once again a comparable prize. Shahrastani succeeded and the future of the Budweiser Irish Derby was secure, with the additional bonus of international television coverage. Ironically, the intense international competition for the Budweiser Irish Derby all but removed it from the grasp of Irish trainers. When Dermot Weld took his first Irish Derby with Zagreb (Pat Shanahan) in 1996 he was the only Curragh trainer alive to claim that distinction. Since Vincent O'Brien completed his tally with Law Society in 1985 only Jim Bolger had kept the great prize at home, with St. Jovite (Christy Roche) in 1992. In recent times the Celtic Tiger has roared home a succession of lrish-trained winners of the Budweiser Irish Derby. Aidan O'Brien has been successful with Desert King (1997), Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002). John Oxx avenged his father's narrow defeat with Arctic Storm in the inaugural Irish Sweeps Derby with Sinndar (2000) and Alamshar (2003), while Dermot Weld followed up last year with Grey Swallow, the first grey to succeed since Nathoo in 1948. 
The 1964 Finish: A tremendous scrap for 2nd place, but Santa Claus is out on his own. Photo: Jim Connolly
Posted by spurcell at 04:56 PM
Chairman's Address
A warm welcome to the 27th Kildare Derby Festival. The Festival happens because a small group of dedicated people put almost a year of voluntary work into the organising of the event. The Committee, who have their own jobs, families and are part of other organisations in the town, have a pride in their town and want to see it progress like any town that has major events. The only reward needed is, appreciation from the business people and organisations who might benefit from the festival. And in order for the festival to continue, we need support from these people. I would like to thank all the advertisers in this programme, this is one of our main fundraising areas and I ask people who buy the book to support our advertisers, also we appreciate the people who gave us articles and patronage for the programme. In the absence of C.E. scheme participants for most of this year it was harder to put the programme together. Vice Chairperson Mary Kavanagh with the help of Doreen Delaney gave their time to compile the advertising and were right on schedule, a job well done. I would also like to welcome Vivian Oby Okeze to our Festival Office. There were lots of other areas we needed help so I will take this opportunity to thank some people, Peader Byrne and Kevin Lott C.Y.M.S. Margie Sheridan Parish Centre, Evan Arkwright and Trish Byrne, Curragh Racecourse, Jim Murphy R.A.C.E. Ciara Nolan, Kildangan Stud, Lt Col Eamon Cullagh Defence Forces. Our main sponsors BUDWEISER, Kildare Town Publicans, Kildare Co. Council, Kildare Failte, Dunmurray Springs Golf Club, the sponsors of each Festival Queen and Liam O'Keeffe for the Pub Quiz. A new event this year, is the French Market, which has been a huge success in other towns. I would like to extend a warm welcome to our French friends and I am sure Kildare Town people will give them every support. Finally I would like to thank the hard working committee, who have put a lot of time and effort into getting this Festival together and hope our endeavours are rewarded. Ollie Kearns Chairman, Kildare Derby Festival
Posted by kevinkelly at 12:15 PM
