Waterville August 2013
The 3rd Charlie Chaplin Film Festival took place in Waterville, County Kerry on the last weekend in August 2013.
First of all, we travelled from Killarney via Ballaghasheen Pass to Waterville. If anyone is interested in a most interesting and scenic drive that dissects the Iveragh Peninsula in Co Kerry please take note. It is beautiful. The glorious weather of Thursday enhanced the experience.
We were invited to attend and partake in the opening parade. Complementary passes were issues to our members.The committee organised a parade at 7.00pm. Fossets Circus provided street entertainers and a Charlie Chaplin actor and we provided a shining Model T. The holiday makers and locals alike were entralled.
Friday was another sunny day and with our grandchildren we headed off to Ballinskelligs for a picnic lunch, time for splashing on the sandy beach and making sandcastles. Saturday’s weather forecast proved to be correct. Not raining at all but a steady mist all day. This did not prevent us from enjoying ourselves. We enjoyed watching the vintage tractor event as they parked up in the Village for refreshments.
Our convoy of two model Ts headed westwards in the direction of Valentia Island. We halted at the Skelligs Experience visitor information centre at Portmagee. Very well worth seeing.
The structure, just over the bridge is built right into the hills and practically unseen from afar. In addition to a visitor centre is has a film show of the Skelligs, a gift shop, and organises sea cruises around these famous islands. The restaurant provided a hearty square midday meal for us all.
Next stop the Valentia Farmhouse Island Ice Cream Parlour. Here local dairy farmer produces prize winning milk and ice cream direct from his farm dairy. Delicious ice cream was sampled! The adjoining pet farm was well appreciated by the children.
We visited the Ferry Terminal at Knight’s Town where a continuous service is provided to Caherseveen. The journey took 5 minutes all in and helped create a scenic loop back to Waterville.
On our way, we met a group of Canadian golfers who were in Waterville to sample the world renowned golf course. They were given a warm welcome from Club members and were promised their photograph on our web site.
Pictured are Olie Applebaum, Paul Natale, Doug Duncombe and Mohammed Riaz with Doireann Cuddy. We hope you enjoyed your Irish Golf experience and that you will return with your friends again and help Irish Tourism. Thank you gentlemen.
Sunday morning was one of sunshine and bright skies and ideal for what the locals had in mind. They set out to create a Guinness World Record for a gathering of Charlie Chaplin lookalikes.
People of all ages, from young to not so young adorned themselves in the garb of the Tramp led by the famous Mick O’Dwyer who was captured on film behind the wheel of a 1915 T.
The modest convoy of Ts led the parade of almost 200 tramps down the main street to the delight of the waiting passer-bys. Hopefully the attempt of beating the world record will be achieved next year.
As always, time for a group photograph of members present. To end this report hereunder a nice picture of our President Michael and Joan with young guests!
Hope you have enjoyed your visit to our site as much as we enjoyed our visit to Waterville in County Kerry.
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