Ulster Scots fest is 'aye ready' for off

THE Cairncastle Ulster Scots Folk Festival celebrates its tenth anniversary with a five-day event this year.

The biggest festival of its kind in Northern Ireland will feature more than 100 artists from across the province, east Donegal and the west coast of Scotland.

It starts on Wednesday, July 28 with a discussion on the Great Ulster Plantation in the Larne Museum and Arts Centre. There will follow musical evenings in the 1,000-seater marquee beside Cairncastle Orange hall, continuing through to Saturday evening. The festival concludes on Sunday, August 1 with an afternoon Ulster Scots praise service in the marquee.

Throughout the festival, music will be provided by bands, groups and individuals who are well known throughout Northern Ireland and Scotland. On the opening night, 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 involves 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 will be 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 in attendance. There will be Highland dancing from Jodie Mills and the line-up is complete with the Duffin Folk Band and from Londonderry Maiden City Beat and the John Trotter Folk Band. Entertainer Billy Teare will compere.

Workshops on language, Scottish dancing, music, storytelling, poetry, heritage and culture will be held in the village on the Saturday afternoon and in the evening more than 40 musicians will be on stage. Cecil Knox will compere this evening's entertainment along with The Grousebeaters and many of the bands who have 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 Bluegrass style.

There will be a Scottish Country Dance in the Halfway House Hotel at the conclusion of the Saturday evening events in the marquee, with music from The Tartan Lads.

Most of the musicians will 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.

Another festival favourite, the musical coach tour along the East Antrim coast, will explore Plantation settlements. At the Ulster Scots Ullans Centre in Ballymoney there will be a presentation and musical items before returning home.

Catering is available each evening from 5-7pm.

Further information is available from www.cairncastleulsterscotsfolkfestival.co.uk or ring Bobby on 07774401935.