Heritage event to honour legacy of Limerick Olympian and aviator

PREPARATIONS are in full swing for the annual village fayre in Knockaderry and a heritage evening which will celebrate the life of Knockaderry born athletics and aviation pioneer Sophie Peirce.

This year marks the centenary of Sophie’s participation at a major Olympics conference in Prague in 1925 where she was instrumental in securing the inclusion of womens’ events in the Olympics. She took part in the first Women’s World Games in Paris in 1922. She also flew an Avro Avian III aircraft marked G-EBUG to Cape Town solo to Croydon near London and was the first person to do so in 1928. In October 1928, She set an altitude record of 24,700 feet.

Sophie competed in the 1923 Monte Carlo Games in eight events, winning three bronze medals and competed in the Second International Ladies Games at Gothenburg in Sweden. She published a book of poetry in 1925 entitled ‘East African nights and other verses’.

The heritage evening will be held in the Resource Centre this Thursday, August 14 at 8pm and the village fayre will take place on Sunday, August 17. It's the main fundraiser for the community council to support the operation of the centres in Clouncagh and Knockaderry. The centres are used for meetings, social and family events including drama presentations, concerts, dances, sports and fitness training.

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A golf classic event will also take place at Newcastle West Golf club on Saturday morning, August 16, as part of the Fayre in aid of the community facilities at Clouncagh and Knockaderry with prize giving on the Sunday evening in the Halla Beag. The action moves to the Páirc na nGael hurling field on Saturday for an evening of fun and games, mainly for the younger age group. Parents and families are invited to come along for some great entertainment.

The main event, the village street fayre, takes place in Knockaderry village on Sunday, August 17 from 1pm and will feature entertainment and catering to suit everyone. There will be a bouncy castle and train rides for the kids and the local home baking will be a major attraction.

There will be stalls for toys, books, face painting, hair braiding, Wheel of Fortune, hurling and soccer skills, a slow bicycle race, a fancy dress parade, a dog show and kids train rides.

A feature of the fayre celebrations this year will be the appearance of The Swingman from Newcastle West, a performer of popular, jazz and classical entertainment. Live music will also be provided by local traditional musicians who are making waves on the Fleadh Cheoil scene.