Twelfth Festival to wow town

The focus on the opening day will be in the Diamond where you can celebrate American Independence Day the Ulster Scots way with Scottish Historical Group and George Dallas using traditional music and dance in an educational historical street drama. The town centre will come alive with an afternoon of traditional music and dance, starting at about 11am, artists including the Ulster Scots Experience, Coleraine Fife & Drum Band, Mandy’s Country Steppers, the Hounds of Ulster and others will entertain shoppers.

The historical and cultural exhibition will have a military aspect this year again and will open on Saturday at 10.30am.

Beginning on Monday 6th local historian George Dallas will facilitate a workshop Coleraine – A Plantation Town in Coleraine Ulster Scots Resource Centre at 7.30pm, then on Tuesday we’ve another well-known local man, Ronnie Gamble giving a talk on Coleraine – The Military Tradition.

There are many Ulster Scots words still in everyday use in the area and the Ullans Speakers Association will facilitate a workshop on the Ulster Scots language on Tuesday at 2.30pm in Coleraine Ulster Scots Resource Centre where you can also enjoy a “ wee drap o’tae”.

On Wednesday 8th Jeffrey Gault will facilitate a workshop in Coleraine Ulster Scots Resource Centre at 7.30pm around World War 1 and the military medals associated with the period, especially the Victoria Cross.

On Thursday 9th July the festival crosses the river to Christie Park for the Family Fun Evening where local bands, including flute, accordion and bagpipe will be joined by Lambegs and fifes to provide the musical entertainment before the annual fireworks display over the River Bann. There will also be a river rescue display, children’s fun day, barbecue and lots more.

Also on Thursday highland dance tutor Kathryn Stewart, a past Ulster Champion, will hold a dance workshop in Coleraine Ulster Scots Resource Centre at 2.30pm for any aspiring young dancers who might like to learn a bit more about the vibrant Highland dance scene – an enjoyable fun way of getting kids active.

On Friday you can join local historian George Dallas for a danner round the town for the ever popular town walks which will leave Coleraine Ulster Scots Resource Centre at 11am and 7pm. George will also give a talk about the 1718 migration from the Bann Valley after the evening walk (about 8pm).

The festival will conclude on Saturday 11th July with a new event Picnic in the Park when you can relax and take it easy for a while whilst being musically entertained, harking back to the Edwardian period leading to that dark period of history, World War 1.

Organisers express thanks...

“We’re confident we’ve something for everyone yet again in the varied programme of events being rolled out in the week leading up to the Twelfth, which is this year being hosted by Coleraine District LOL No2 in the town. We’re very grateful to our funders the Ulster Scots Agency and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and all the local bands and other organisations who have stepped forward and are giving their services free of charge to help us put on the usual high standard of entertainment the community has come to expect.”