Broadisland Gathering to go ahead this year

But the organisers say that continued indifference by the authorities to developing east-west links and promoting Ulster Scots culture is undermining enthusiasm among those who give their time voluntarily to the Broadisland Gathering and similar events.

Festival director Dr David Hume said that there did not appear to be any strategic efforts by those in authority to encourage development of community links with Scotland.

"Our community association has been aiming to develop such links since 1993, and when the Belfast Agreement promised development of the Ulster Scots tradition and culture we could have been forgiven for expecting communities like ours to see benefit from the new arrangements.

For the full story see this week's Larne Times.