Dalriada Festival to showcase Scottish links

17 June 2011, 10:00, Glenarm Castle Estate, Glenarm, Co Antrim

Runs to 19 June 2011

The first-ever P&O Dalriada Festival in partnership with UTV promises to be an event for all the family, which will give people from across Northern Ireland and Scotland the chance to celebrate a shared history that dates back to ancient times.

The Festival is named after Dalriada, the ancient kingdom on the western coast of Scotland that extended from Argyll and the Highlands right across to Glenarm and the surrounding North Antrim Coast.

 

A collaboration of Food, Music and Sport, the P&O Ferries Dalriada Festival at Glenarm Castle Estate, Glenarm, will be an action-packed weekend of activity between Friday 17^th June and Sunday 19^th June 2011.

 

Adrian Morrow, Glenarm Castle Estates Manager, said, “The P&O Ferries Dalriada Festival is a celebration of our heritage and culture, both Irish and Scottish. As Glenarm was once part of Dal Riada, the Festival will celebrate through Music, Sport and Food all that unites the traditions across Scotland and Ireland.

 

“On the sporting front, the Highlander Challenge ‘World Championships’ will be the main event with games from the hammer throw to the tossing the caber. We will be welcoming rowers from West Greenock, Glasgow and many others to take part in the Regatta and we’ve also challenged our Scottish cousins to some shinty. There will be Tug-o-War, Tag Rugby, a mountain run, and Poc-fada, a tournament testing the skills of Ireland’s best hurlers.

 

“There is also an amazing line up of world-class artists on the music front. On the Friday night we have General Fiasco and Duke Special supported by Tucan. The Priests supported by Amici and ably assisted by some of Ireland’s finest musicians will play on Saturday night and Sunday sees our free gospel concert with Grammy award winning artist, David Phelps.”

 

Glenarm is renowned for some excellent Irish foods, with smoked salmon and the Estate shorthorn beef and organic lamb. The NEFF Festival of Food will include Jenny Bristow, a famous chef from Co. Antrim, giving cookery master classes, using herbs and vegetables from our very own walled garden.

 

There will also be a display of the best produce and foods from Argyll – and Scottish chefs will be competing against our own leading chefs in a Cook Off Competition.

“This is only some of what is on offer at the Festival,” said Adrian. “I would encourage everyone to visit our website www.dalriadafestival.co.uk to find out what else there is and buy tickets.  Come along whatever your taste in music, food or sport, Dalriada Festival has it all.”

 

For further information, please log on to www.dalriadafestival.co.uk