Something for everyone at Cairncastle folk festival

Over 100 artists from across Northern Ireland, east Donegal and the west coast of Scotland are set to take part.

The fun begins on Wednesday, July 28, in Larne Museum and Arts Centre, with a discussion on the Great Ulster Plantation.

This will be followed by musical evenings in the 1,0000-seater marquee beside the Orange Hall in the village.

The musical evenings will continue through to Saturday evening, and on Sunday afternoon will conclude with an Ulster Scots Praise Service in the marquee.

Music will be provided by bands, groups and individuals who are well known throughout Northern Ireland and Scotland.

On Wednesday evening the artists taking part are Robert Logan, The Grousebeaters, Young Ones, The Island Fiddlers, Aughafatten Accordion Orchestra and Cairncastle Flute Youth Folk Band. There will also be a special item from the Ballymena Ethnic Forum that includes musicians from Zimbabwe, China and Guyana.

Music on Thursday evening will be provided by the Lyttle Family Folk Band, Rising Stour, Transatlantic Hillbilly Band, Rightly On Folk Band, Whitlees Community Band from Ardrossan, and Bright Light Dancers with broadcaster Charlie Gillen, Ross Hume and John Magill.

There will be a strong Scottish flavour on Friday evening with Karen Mac from West Sound Radio. From Kilkeel there’s the Schomberg Fife and Drum Band and the Schomberg Folk Orchestra. The Kirknarra School of Dance along with Sammy and Stuart from Donegal hope to be there too.

There will be highland dancing from Jodie Mills and the line-up is completed with the Duffin Folk Band, and from Londonderry, Maiden City Beat and the John Trotter Folk Band. Entertainer Billy Teare will compere proceedings on Friday evening.

Various workshops will take place in the village on Saturday afternoon and on Saturday evening there will be over 40 musicians on the stage. Cecil Knox will compere this evening’s entertainment along with the Grousebeaters and many of the bands who had performed during the week. In addition, there will be items from the Thompson Brothers, Frances Lynch’s Folk Band, John Magill, Robert Bell and the talented Mark Carmichael who writes and composes gospel music in his own inimitable bluegrass style.

There will be a Scottish Country Dance in the Halfway House Hotel at the conclusion of Friday evening’s events in the marquee. Music in the Halfway House will be provided by the Tartan Lads.

Most of the musicians will also take part in what has become one of the highlights of the festival, the Praise Service in the marquee on Sunday afternoon, led by Mark Carmichael.

In addition, there will be workshops covering language, Scottish dancing, music, storytelling, poetry, heritage and culture.

And a musical bus will run along the East Antrim coast exploring Plantation settlements. At the Ulster Scots Ullans Centre in Ballymoney there will be a presentation and further musical items before heading home.

Catering is available each evening between 5pm and 7pm.

Further information is available from: www.cairncastleulsterscotsfolkfestival.co.uk or by ringing Bobby on 07774 401935.