Balloon Championships at Drumshanbo

The 2013 Irish National Hot Air Baloon Championships will take place from Tuesday 24th September to Friday 27th September in Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim.

Now in its 43rd year, the annual festival also known as 'The Irish Meet' comes to Leitrim this year as part of the Carrick on Shannon 400 festival, a yearlong festival taking place this year as 2013 marks the 400th anniversary since King James 1st granted the town charter.

Headquarter at Lough Allen hotel and Spa in Drumshanbo, the festival starts on the Tuesday with two mass flights per day (weather dependant) at 7am and at 4pm. The event is expected to attract up to 40 balloons with competitors attending from the UK, American and from across Europe.

There will be lots of various competitions throughout the week and local primary schools will also be visited by members of Irish Ballooning to help educate future pilots.

Ray Leslie, Meet Director of the event says they will working with locals to ensure maximum enjoyment will be had by all. "The enthusiasm of Leitrim County Council, Fáilte Ireland, the Lough Allen Hotel and Moorelands Equestrian centre was instrumental in winning the bid to host the even in Leitrim this year." Carrick on Shannon 400 is a Leitrim County Council initiative supported by Leitrim Tourism Carrick on Shannon Chamber and the local community. Further information on www.meet2013.irishballooning.com

Darragh Turley (10) from Drumshanbo is pictured above watching a balloon take off at the Lough Allen Hotel and Spa.

Also pictured are Fáilte Ireland's Noelle Cawley, and Joseph Gilhooly of Leitrim County Council at the launch. Photo: Brian Farrell.