Grafton Street came to a standstill today when The Paddy Reilly Band busked its way into the record books. The six musicians, who are all named 'Paddy Reilly', were brought together after a worldwide trawl. The band will give its first full performance before a gathering of scores of Paddy Reillys  - another prospective world record - at the 20th annual Culchie Festival in Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan this weekend.

The six Paddy Reillys come from Cos Cavan and Louth and play guitar, tin whistle, double bass, drums' fiddle and keyboards. Ballyjamesduff is synonymous with the Percy French song, Come Back Paddy Reilly To Ballyjamesduff which was written about a local man.

Organiser Paddy Rock said: "The Paddy Reilly in the ballad existed in real life used to ferry French around Co Cavan on his pony and trap more than 100 years ago.
"But Paddy suddenly left to go to Scotland and was never seen again. Percy French missed him and wrote the song in his honour."The band aims to sing a cover version of the popular ballad to raise funds to erect a statue of Paddy Reilly in Ballyjamesduff, beside the existing statue of Percy French on a park bench."

The organisers are also aiming to set a new world record by gathering as many Paddy Reillys as possible in one spot - beside the statue of Percy Frency - this weekend.
The www.comebackpaddyreilly.com website has been launched to attract Paddy Reillys from all over the world for the event.

Meanwhile the first Dubliner - Michael 'Maxi' McConnell from Ballyfermot - has been admitted as one of the 22 contestant for the King of the Culchies pageant after years of resistance by the organisers.

The event, being held in Ballyjamesduff in Co Cavan, will kick off with on Friday, October 23 with the gala Bacon & Cabbage Ball. This will be followed by Ireland's inaugural Super Granny competition.

On Sunday, another world record will be attempted with the 5th annual Honda Step-Thru Run, which is expected to beat the current record of 481 bikes in a single parade.
Special guest will be Fair City actor Alan O'Neill who plays Keith in the soap.
Proceeds from the Festival will fund local branches of the Alzheimer Society & Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Other events during the weekend include the Culchie Olympics featuring Welly Throwing, Potato Picking and Wheelie Bin Racing, Hammer Throwing and Turf Footing.
The 2009 Culchie will be announced at midnight on Sunday in St Joseph's Hall.
All events are taking place in venues in Ballyjamesduff such as the county museum, the community centre, the cattlemart, Soden's Bar, McBride's Bar, Crowe's Corner, Colm's Bar and Reason's Bar.
 
 
For more information, contact Paddy Rock (087) 243 9760.

M J Curtin ( Clare Culchie) pictured with some of his adoring fans Sarah Shannon, Anne Garrihy, Sophie Heusy ( from Holland)  prior to his departure for  the culchie festival in Cavan at a party in Daly's of Ennistymon

Calling all Paddy Reilly's This years Culchie Festival returns to Cavan and will take place in Ballyjamesduff from October 23rd -25th 

As part of our festival we would like to, pay tribute to Percy French who wrote the famous ballad “Come Back Paddy Reilly to  Ballyjamesduff” and we are setting out on a world wide search for Paddy Reilly's to return to or even visit for the first time this famous little hamlet. This will also allow old aquaintances to be renewed and may even establish new ones

So if you are a Paddy, Padraic, Paudie or Patrick Reilly we want you to come to Ballyjamesduff on Saturday 24th of October at 12 noon where we will register you for the big picture which will be taken at 3pm. If you are not one of the Reillys we seek you will still be most welcome in  Ballyjamesduff as part of our Festival Weekend which will run from October 23rd -25th

Getting their Caps off for Charity ' The Cavan Chippin-Bales '
Culchie Kings Adrian McCabe & Paudie Clinton and Culchie Kings in the making Jimmy Brennan, Colm Chambers & Ciarn Mackey who performed the full monty at Buddy Kiernans on Saturday night last 29th of August to a packed and excited crowd. (no small talk)