Ulster-Scots festival launch at Broadway

Between 1.30-4.00pm folk groups The Grousebeaters and Rightly On, and the Cairncastle School of Highland Dancing will perform to promote the programme for the 2010 festival, which will take place from Wednesday, July 28 until Sunday, August 1. Festival programmes will be available on the day.

The Cairncastle committee attended the Ayrshire County Show, held at the Ayr race course earlier this month, to spread news of the festival in the west coast of Scotland.

The Grousebeaters were joined by the Robertson School of Highland Dancing, from Ayrshire.

Bobby Acheson, chairman of the festival committee, said the promotional visit was an outstanding success. “We were able to meet so many people from all parts of Scotland and England and promote both our festival and the borough of Larne at such a major event,” he said.

“Two groups have now confirmed that they will be attending our festival, who are the Ayrshire Vintage Tractor Club and the Robertson School of Highland Dancing.

“We also had the pleasure of meeting John Scott, member of the Scottish Parliament for Ayr. John has indicated to us that he is keen to build economic and cultural links with Larne.”

The 2010 festival will feature the largest number of folk bands and individual musicians from the west coast of Scotland, east Donegal, England and Austrailia.

“We look forward to meeting old friends and new friends at Larne town centre and enjoy the afternoons craic,” said Bobby of Saturday’s launch.