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A two day chaity event running alongside the Lughnasa Fair
Saturday 26 July 2008
Monday 28 July 2008
12 Noon
6.00pm
Carrickfergus
Various
Event
One of Northern Ireland’s iconic tourist attractions will be the focal point for a weekend packed with family fun later this month.
Over the weekend of 26 and 27 July it seems that all roads will lead to Carrickfergus Castle where two great events will provide fun inside and outside those famous Norman walls.
Inside the walls The Northern Ireland Environment Agency will be hosting the annual Lughnasa Fair, a feast of medieval entertainment while, outside, the family fun will have a more modern twist, provided by the 999 Charity Partnership of Northern Ireland’s Emergency Services, in aid of the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children. The Partnership is made up of representatives of The Police Service of Northern Ireland, The Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service, The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and Her Majesty’s Coastguard.
Mayor of Carrickfergus Alderman Patricia McKinney of Carrickfergus Borough Council is looking forward to seeing the town get into holiday mood for the mega-weekend. Looking forward to the excitement and the crowds who are expected to flock to the Borough for the holiday fun, she said,
“We are thrilled to have such different yet complementary events happening in and around our star tourist attraction, Carrickfergus Castle itself. I’m sure when it was built more than 800 years ago no-one would have envisaged this friendly invasion!
The Lughnasa Fair has become an immensely popular annual tradition for the town. It not only provides fabulous themed entertainment, it also opens the doors on the medieval world. Carrickfergus Borough Council is delighted to see this creative and inclusive approach from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency which both manages and protects the castle. We share their hope that the family audiences who come along to enjoy to this special day of entertainment will return to find out more about this national treasure on our doorstep.”
The annual Lughnasa Fair will run from 12.00 Noon to 5.00pm on the 26 and 27 July, when the Castle and its courtyard will be filled with crafts, food, workshops and demonstrations, all with a historic twist. Jesters will be adding to the period fun, supporting (or creating problems!) for acts such as The Great Meifesto, Toot Sweet and The Grand Theatre of Lemmings.
A stunning display of birds of prey and Castle tours escorted by medieval Lords and Ladies will add to the medieval atmosphere. A Medieval Make and Do will bring the focus on crafts, while every nook and cranny of the Castle will be filled with themed story-tellers, traders and craftspeople. Even the face painting will have a touch of medieval theatricality while a highlight of each day’s entertainment will be provided by the gallant Freelancing Knights of Redemption and the Knights of the Damned jousting troupe.On Sunday they will be joined by the Freelanding Knights of Redemption in spectacular combat and re-enactment displays and Damsels in Distress . . . a duo of dynamic damsels on a constant (but futile!) crusade to fid their Knights in Shining Armour!
Looking forward to the event, Janis Smith, Manager of Carrickfergus Castle, says;
“The Northern Ireland Environment Agency runs this type of event to encourage the public, in a fun way, to appreciate and look after their local natural and built environment. Already thousands of people visit Carrickfergus Castle each year but we’d like to welcome still more.“We are privileged to be custodians of some of the Province’s most interesting and important built and natural attractions, but we don’t want to protect those assets by keeping the public at bay! We want to see as many people as possible enjoy our properties and, in doing so, we hope they will come to share our passion for protecting the best of our built and natural environment. “
Admission to Lughnasa Fair which includes privilege seating at jousting tournaments is £3 for adults, £1.50 for concessions.
The Mayor continued;
“Running alongside Lughnasa this year will be a super town centre market organised by our own Chamber of Commerce and a ‘999 Charity Partnership Weekend’ which is guaranteed to have some thing for everyone. The varied programme provided by 999 Charity Partnership is evidence – if evidence were needed – of the commitment, energy and enthusiasm of this sterling group of people, while the good cause they have selected for their very first combined charity fund-raiser is one which must touch the hearts of every family.”
Benefiting from the fund-raising activity will be Young Shoulders, a new service being piloted by the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children, offering support to children and young people between the ages of 11 and 21 who are living with a parent who has cancer. The Young Shoulders programme will provide emotional and social support to these children and equip them with the coping mechanisms and resilience that will see them through their family’s cancer journey.
Joanne Steele from the NI Cancer Fund for Children is inviting local families to support the events,
“By coming along to the events, you will be reaching out to local parents living with cancer, whose children are dealing with a range of difficulties including separation anxiety, fears for the future and the stresses attached to a demanding caring role. With your support, we can guide these children through this traumatic and uncertain period of their lives.”
It seems that 999 Charity Partnership will be staging almost 999 attractions on the Big Weekend, ranging from magic and story telling shows, vintage car and cycle displays to team challenges and a Fancy Dress Parade. They’ll also be giving children the opportunity to get ‘up close and personal’ with emergency vehicles and emergency-themed interactive stands. There will also be an opportunity to take to the water with a range of options to suit varying tastes and purses. RIBs (Rigid Inflatable Boats) will operate a special service between Belfast and Carrick at £10 per person or you can choose to cruise the Lough on a lavish yacht at £50 per person. Half hour pleasure boat excursions will operate between Carrickfergus and Bangor Marinas at £5 per adult or £2 per child. Belfast Lough Sailability will be encouraging visitors with a disability to learn a little about the sport of sailing – no charge but donations for the nominated charity welcome. Dragon boat racing will be adding to the thrills – and possibly the watery spills – of the days, with the excitement provided by Lagan Water Sports with support from Sea Cadets from TS Warrior in Carrickfergus. Lagan Watersports will also be showing off their skills with remote control model boats. The 999 Charity Partnership fun will run from 12.00 Noon – 6.00pm each day. Car park admission is £1 for both adults and children.
If you would like further information about the 999 Charity Partnership events, please contact Joanne on 028 9080 5599 or email joanne@nicfc.com alternatively visit www.nicfc.com. If you would like further information about Lughnasa Fair contact Carrickfergus Castle on 028 9335 1273 or visit www.ni-environment.gov.uk.
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