THERE WERE NO LIVE PIGS TO BE SEEN IN THE SEASIDE TOWN OF ENNISCRONE, AT THE WEEKEND, WHEN THE ANNUAL BLACK PIG FESTIVAL TOOK PLACE. THERE WERE A VARIETY OF EVENTS OVER THE WEEKEND BUT PIGS WERE CONSPICUOUS BY THEIR ABSENCE, AN OMISSION WHICH FIANNA FÁIL COUNCILLOR JOE QUEENAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE FESTIVAL COMMITTEE, SUGGESTS MAY HAVE TO BE RECTIFIED NEXT YEAR.

LAST YEAR, PIGS WERE THE CENTREPIECE OF THE FESTIVITIES. THEY WERE DOUSED WITH WASHING-UP LIQUID AND SMEARED WITH PETROLEUM JELLY FOR THE POPULAR PIG-CATCHING COMPETITION. IT PROVIDED ENDLESS ENTERTAINMENT FOR MANY BUT WAS A MAJOR TURNOFF FOR OTHERS WHO FELT THE EVENT WAS CRUEL.

CLLR QUEENAN TOLD TODAYS IRISH TIMES -WE WEREN’T EXACTLY STOPPED FROM HAVING PIGS THIS YEAR BUT WE WERE MADE CONSCIOUS OF THE ANIMAL RIGHTS ISSUE. HE SAID SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT ABOUT THE ABSENCE OF PIGS THIS YEAR THAT “WE MAY HAVE TO REVISIT THIS ISSUE FOR NEXT YEAR’S FESTIVAL”.

THERE IS A GIANT SCULPTURE OF A BLACK PIG OUTSIDE THE VILLAGE WHICH REPORTEDLY HAS BEEN ERECTED CLOSE TO THE SPOT WHERE A MYTHICAL WILD BOAR WAS SLAIN BY THE BRAVE WARRIORS OF THE ENNISCRONE AREA HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO.

CENTURIES LATER THE STORY IS INSPIRING A FESTIVAL WHICH BROUGHT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE INTO ENNISCRONE OVER THE WEEKEND.