Easter is the time of holy celebration, colorful Easter hats and chocolate eggs… Well, not in Carlingford in Co Louth – get set for the wackiest event of the year! The area that hosts the National Leprechaun Hunt is ‘laying’ on a day at the races Easter egg style. Open to anything that lays an egg – The 2014 Easter National Poultry Races are on!
The sane and insane are invited to watch chickens, roosters, ducks and geese race to the finish line on the Village Green in the picturesque town of Carlingford in County Louth on Easter Monday April 21st. International Boyle Sports have partnered with the innovative event and will be on course to accept bets on ‘Golden Nugget, ‘What a Chick’ or ‘Sunnyside up’. However, this appears to be serious business to some poultry farmers. Over the last 6 weeks, intensive training has been taking place at the Four Seasons Hotel Leisure Centre in Carlingford, the official training centre for the madcap races. Residents of the hotel have been surprised to find themselves swimming alongside ‘Duck It’ and running side by side with ‘Early Riser’ on the treadmill.
Competition is reported to be high and tensions between the bird camps are becoming quite frayed. A reliable source confirmed that a recent scattering during training resulted in quite a mess to clean up. Apparently, during a particular session ‘Feathery Jane’, felt that her Four Seasons personal trainer was giving too much time to rival ‘What a Yoke’. The white Suffolk flew into a rage and later departed from the hotel, looking ruffled.
Representatives from the Irish National Poultry Health Association have been inspecting the ongoing training and overseeing the course preparation. An INPHA spokesperson said ‘We are delighted to see this healthy activity for poultry and it is encouraging to see that people are offering a fun activity for these birds who are usually attended to solely for their produce. The country is so much into health these days and it is appropriate that it is including our feathered members of society.’
The day at the races is delivered by The Cooley Peninsula Tourist Office and sponsored by The Four Seasons Hotel & Leisure Centre. It is also supported by Carlingford Cooley Tourism, Carlingford and Mourne Region Ltd and local business’ who sponsored the 12 races including the prestigious Scrambled Eggs Stakes. Flat, hurdle and obstacle races will be programmed and the event promises to be one to not to miss!
Registration is open for hen, chicken and geese entries. Please email info@carlingford.ie. Closing date Fri 18th April 2014 at 5.00pm
