Great Siege the basis for Halloween parade

Pirates from the Marvel Arts Theatre Company who took part in Derry City Council's annual Banks of the Foyle Halloweâ¬"en . The event attracts spooky fun seekers from across Ireland and Europe and is recognised as one of the biggest festivals of the year with tens of thousands of visitors lining the carnival parade route along the banks River Foyle. Picture Martin McKeown. Inpresspics.com. 31.10.14

Captain Bowning and his wife, Lady Jane, were joined by a troupe of skeletal ballerinas, a giant skeleton, and a ghost ship for the ‘City of Bones’ themed celebrations that began at 7pm at Queen’s Quay with a parade down Strand Road, around harbour Quay Roundabout and along the Queen’s Quay, before the crowds in their thousands braved the damp night air for the traditional fireworks display.

Organised by Derry City Council, 500 street performers, dancers, singers and musicians combined to stage a spectacle unlike any other in Europe. Large props formed the main centre-pieces of the parade, which was based on the story of the ghost of Captain Browning, who was killed as his ship the Mountjoy broke the boom across the River Foyle. The breaking of the boom marked the end of the Siege of Derry in 1689.

His wife Jane Browning was depicted as the Lady in White in the carnival parade, which also included a large prop of the tower of St Columb’s Cathedral - this is where she was waiting as her husband was making his way to the besieged city.

There were ghostly dancers, the skeleton crew, and ghastly ghosts representing the ‘half dead’ from the Siege. Walter, the skeleton depicted in the city’s Coat of Arms, also made a larger than life appearance in the ‘Bone-Shakers’ Return’ section of the carnival parade along with a host of other ghoulish characters and some blood-curdling screams.

Ollie Green, Artistic Director of Greater Shantallow Community Arts (GSCA), said the group was delighted to have 384 residents involved in this year’s interactive spectacle.

Their large centrepiece, ‘Walter’s Demise’, saw a 25ft high skeleton on a gallows over flaming fires accompanied by the Bone-Shakers Ballet featuring dancers from the Rainbow School of Ballet based at GSCA’s Studio 2. This section was choreographed by Vanessa Chapman.

“Hallowe’en is one of the biggest celebrations in our city’s festival calendar and this year we are really upping the game,” he said.

The Mayor Councillor Brenda Stevenson pictured with JC Aqutiane and Cameron Trabajada who took part in Derry City Council's annual Banks of the Foyle Halloweâ¬"en . The event attracts spooky fun seekers from across Ireland and Europe and is recognised as one of the biggest festivals of the year with tens of thousands of visitors lining the carnival parade route along the banks River Foyle. Picture Martin McKeown. Inpresspics.com. 31.10.14

“This year promises to be the biggest and most memorable and inclusive Halloween Carnival parade our city has ever seen and we are also thankful to Louise Hughes, the Outer North Community Engagement Officer who has played a central role in bringing new groups of local residents into the heart of creative activity within our city.

“The groups are working alongside an outstanding team of local artists, dramatist, dance facilitators and Carnival costume makers who have been working away behind the scenes preparing hundreds of our local performers of all ages, ensuring that the tens of thousands who come out to line our city streets will really experience a Bone-Shaking Hallowe’en night to remember.”

The Banks of the Foyle Hallowe’en Carnival Parade will depart from Derry City Council offices, Strand Road, at 7pm on Friday, October 31st and make its way along Queen’s Quay, with the Fireworks Display at 8pm.

For the rest of the weekend’s events go to www.derrycity.gov.uk/halloween

The Banks of the Foyle Hallowe’en Carnival is organised by Derry City Council with support from the NITB Events Fund, Derry City Council’s Legacy programme, and Ilex.