#006 - Aisling entertains the press in BGB
Ballygobbard is abuzz as the story of the "Beast" travels far and wide
After a photo of The Beast of Ballygobbard mysteriously appears, the village attracts national and international attention. Ballygobbard Project public relations manager Aisling has her work cut out for her as County Chronicle reporter Sylvia DeRossa embarks on a spot of embedded journalism in BGB. This could have Pulitzer written all over it!
The following is DeRossa’s report, and the latest addition to the BGB Time Capsule…
ARTEFACT #006: COUNTY CHRONICLE NEWSPAPER REPORT
“BEAST OF BALLYGOBBARD” BRINGS INTRIGUE, FEAR… AND TOURISM TO SLEEPY VILLAGE
Population swells as monster-hunters converge on BGB
A special report by Sylvia DeRossa
The usually quiet village of Ballygobbard was buzzing with more activity than one would expect on a warm Wednesday evening in May. Two camper vans had taken up residency in the small church car park, with their occupants sharing a barbecue. Outside the village shop was a stall selling merchandise, and in Maguire’s pub a self-proclaimed local historian, “Mad” Tom Doyle, was about to lead a “drinking and walking tour” of the village. Groups of people were dotted around, chatting, gossiping and in one instance, painting a mural of a fearsome, sabre-toothed monster on the side of a slurry tank. It didn’t feel much like a village in fear, despite what’s rumoured to be prowling the surrounding fields. At BallyGoBrunch café, where I met a local press spokesperson, I was ushered into a back office to escape the noise of a spoken word night. The theme that evening was “Banshees and Beasts”.