New poll calls for concerts at castle

The suggestion topped the list during research as part of an ‘innovation pilot’ between Carrick Council and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

The trial has been set up to improve linkages between the fortress, the town centre and the local community and will continue this Saturday with a St Andrew’s Day celebration.

Designed to give citizens a greater affinity with the landmark building, the initiative was launched earlier this year with a ‘Have Your Say’ day, which provided the chance for people to express their opinion via feedback forms over which activities they would like to see at the venue.

A total of 650 responses were received with requests for medieval days highest at 17.6 percent. A desire for more events in general, including live music concerts. The siting of a museum or artefacts at the castle was also a common theme among responses, with more family fun days, market days and re-enactments also requested. Meanwhile, the possibility of opening a cafe or coffee shop at the castle was raised by one in ten of those surveyed.

Carrick Council, which published the feedback from the pilot in the current edition of its Compass magazine, thanked those who provided an ‘overwhelmingly positive’ response to the survey. The local authority confirmed that it is working with its partners in NIEA to deliver on the most viable suggestions, illustrated by the successful Halloween events and the film screening which took place in the castle. Further events have been planned as part of the trial.