The Rising Tide programme will bring a new dimension to several existing festivals on both sides of the Irish sea. Established events that form a part of the celebration of coastal communities will be given a renewed boost through Rising Tide, assisting organisers to better engage with their communities, creating sustainable maritime events that celebrate the cultural indentify of the area and bring opportunities to tourism economies.
The Welsh Events will include:
Fishguard August Festivals - 5th to 29th August 2011 -
www.fishguardfestival.com
The festivals will take place from the 5th to the 29th August and will bring together all the community groups and their events within that period. It heavily involves Point which works with socially excluded children and is planning to arrange a visit for this group to Mitec and the Tenby Lugger construction in Milford Haven. Other groups involved are: The Roundtable, the Lions, The Agricultural society, the Ramblers society, the Yacht Club, the RNLI, Aberjazz, the Town council, the cricket club and the local schools.
The festival will take place mainly over the 4 weekends with children’s events scheduled for the week days between them, it will include re enactments, a youth regatta, a cricket tournament, 10k run, RNLI fun day. Its focus will be the celebration of the history of the port and the area. Music will be medieval, Welsh and Celtic and will support the activity of the weekend.
Look out for the Invasion re enactment with canons over the harbour and marching Welsh Ladies
and militia, the rowing Gigs, Irish competitors and very special bands, the whole town is involved,
Fishguard and Goodwick will be the places to be in Pembrokeshire this summer.
Carmarthen River Festival - 4th and 10th July 2011
Carmarthen River festival this takes place from the 4th to the 10th July ,following up on last year’s success, the town council is the main coordinator bringing together clubs and youth groups from across the area. It is focussed on the Quayside at Carmarthen, throughout the week groups are given the opportunity to have canoeing and boating lessons on the river together with outdoor pursuits. This culminates in a weekend of family activity on the quay with traditional roving musicians, a community marquee for local music and dance groups to showcase their work and a raft race. This latter event is very well organised and brings all parts of the community together.
The Conwy River Festival - 13th to 21st August 2011
In Conwy, the Rising Tide event is the Conwy River Festival, which takes place over 2 weekends and the week between them, the dates for 2011 are 13th to 21st August. Main activities are:-
13/14 August – Conwy Medieval Maritime Weekend.
14 August – Yacht Racing and Gaff Rigged and Classic Boats Around The Bay Day.
15, 16, 17 August – Daily events for yachts and gaffers/classics.
17 August Old Gaffers Association Race Day.
18/19 August LA LA Rally for all boats to Menai Strait
19 August Lantern Parade 2100
20 August Conwy Traditional Quay and Regatta Day.
21 August Nobby/Gaffer and Classic Race Day.
21 August Deganwy Quay Day.
www.conwyriverfestival.org
Cardigan Quays Festival - 26th - 28th August 2011
In Ceredigion the Cardigan Quays Festival will be held for the 3rd time this year from the 26th to the 28th August.
The event is organised by local business men and has in the past been host to the Dunbrody travelling players first Welsh production. The event is a mixture of ancient and modern Cardigan, whilst it shows the history of the area, this is done in a rustic, family friendly way, Celtic Longboats are invited to race on the river and there are opportunities for canoe tasters. In the commercial approach of this festival, local business are invited to show and sell their wares on the quays to a background of traditional music and dance.
Llyn Maritime Walking Festival
The Llyn AONB Coast and Walking festival will run throughout September, with different activities every weekend.
The festival will give people the opportunity to gain a different experience of Llyn and its coast –either through different themed guided walks, taster sessions for activities on the water, or learning about the area’s wildlife from a boat or canoe.
1,2,3 July Taran Tudweiliog
Music festival of current and traditional Welsh music with lots of fun, games, workshops and plenty for the whole family over the weekend! Everything from traditional clog dancing to surfing! This is Taran Tudweiliog's second year and following last years' success we hope to go from stength to strength!
A day packed with fun and waterbased activities at Morfa Garreg in Pwllheli with Communities 1st. This event is an opportunity to get out and have a go at kayaking, surfing, rowing and other waterbased activities and clubs in the area - the day is rounded off with a night of music in the yacht club with local bands.
A weekend of kayaking, art, wildlife and stories on the beach in Aberdaron with Comunities 1st Pen Llyn
August - October
The event in Holyhead is a major sailing event centred around the marina and Holyhead Sailing Club and organised by the North Wales Area of the Old Gaffers Association.
A civic reception for the participant boat owners together with local dignitaries will be held on the Friday evening.
The weekend will consist of racing on Saturday, within the harbour for small boats and outside the Holyhead breakwater for the larger craft.
Shoreside activities for the weekend include:
Des Pawson MBE with his rope making machine. Visitors will be able to make a rope to take away with them.
Mike Smylie with his herring smoking. Kippers will be available to purchase during the weekend.
Peter Faulkner demonstrating the art of coracle making.
Ruth and Mandy with their basket making and oak swill.
Ann Cooper demonstrating flax processing.
Claudia Myatt – marine artist
Model Boat Association – displaying many different models of boats.
Miniature Battleships – Kittiwake Boats
The RNLI will be testing life jackets.
Parade of sail on Sunday will include a sea battle with cannon, muskets and the Anglesey Hussars.
See web sites
www.northwalesoga.org and also holyhead.northwalesoga.org
The Irish Events will include:
Carrick-on-Suir Festival - 4th - 5th June www.carrickonsuir.info
The River Festival features Cot Races, Raft Races, Duck Races and many demonstrations, a family day including a live stage show of many different performing groups, comedy character and circus show, face painters, stilt walkers, the brass band and local performances. The weekend will also deliver river walks, heritage walking tours, Art Exhibition Trails, drama and variety performances, Children’s Parade, busking competition, Dance and Sports Events
JFK Dunbrody Festival - 22nd- 24th July 2011
The festival will include demonstrations on the river, heritage and photography exhibitions, boat building workshops, cruise-in-company with participation from members of the Barrow Heritage Boats Association, the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland, and a visit from the Irish and Welsh training participants of the Rising Tide project on their voyage from Milford Haven to New Ross. Music will also be provided on the Main stage, on the Music Trail, in the Talent Show and there will be an Arts & crafts market on the quay, Music and alfresco street dining, a funfair. The Mad hatter’s tea party is a family fund day which will provide free amusements, activities and novelty games for all ages. The event will also provide an opportunity for local organisations to showcase their activities and projects. www.jfkdunbrodyfestival.com
Acts include: Wonderland, Alvin Stardust, Showaddywaddy, Jedward, Mary Byrne, Bay City Rollers, Cry Before Dawn, Daniel Furlong, Mother Monster, Thunderstruck.
Hook Maritime Festival - 2nd May 2011 www.hookheritage.ie
Celtic River Festival: 3rd -11th September
The New Ross Celtic River Festival is a celebration of The River Barrow, New Ross Port and Celtic heritage links with Wales. There are lots of activities on the river for regular river rats and those new to life on the water. New Ross Quays and streets become packed with free street concerts, funfairs, puppets and carnival fun. A monumental celebration of Celtic heritage, communities and the waterways that connect us - you can't miss it!
New Ross River Festival - 10th - 11th September 2011 www.celticriver.ie
Dunbrody Travelling Show: 24th September
The Dunbrody Travelling Show will travel to Plas Glyn y Weddw, where there will be maritime themed activities, art workshops and singing followed by the Dunbrody show as the final performance of the day.