COLERAINE Borough Council in partnership with Portrush Revitalization Programme is bringing a new tourism opportunity to the ever popular events programme for the Borough.
‘Pirates off Portrush’ will take place on Saturday 6th July and is a re-enactment of one of the exploits of a Scottish Pirate called Tavish Dhu who at the beginning of the 14th century plundered ships sheltering inside the Skerries off Portrush. Children are invited to join Tavish’s crew and help him grab the Treasure from the Navy Captains. Dress as Pirates and enter the Pirate Dress Competition. The event build-up can be followed on Facebook ‘Pirates Off Portrush’!
Morning Events
9:30 Parkrun Pirate Fun (East Strand)
11:00 to 1:00 Pirate Treasure Hunt (Ramada Hotel)
Pirates at Station Square
2:00 to 3:00 Pirate Dress Competition Amphitheatre at Station Square
3:00……………..Brian Moore Intro to provide details of the events for the day
3:05……………..Bob Curran History Piece
3:10…………….Pirate Drama
3:20……………Set Sail – Getting onto the Kraken
3:30……………Parade
Navy Camp at Ramada
3:00……………..Music Playing
3:30……………..Navy Songs
4:00……………..Pirates arrive
4:05……………..Bob Curran’s History Piece
4:10……………..Navy Drama
4:20……………..Pirates Attack Drama
4:30……………..Dance Battle
4:35………………Capturing
4:40……………..Parade
Walk The Plank: Station
5:00……………..Brian Moore intro and Music
5:10……………..Drama
5:25…………….Final Dance
5:30…………….Walk the Plank.
Main Performers
Tavish Dhu………………Paul Jaffa Cullen
Abbot of Twesceart…..Bob Curran Red Gertie………………Una Culkin
One Eyed Billie……….Terry Hamill The Black Pirate………Harry Coates
Capt Blood……………..John Mc Dowell Capt, Morgan………….Peter Olphert
Capt, Walker D Plank. Andy Lynn Capt, Red Beard………William Thompson
Edward Bruce………….Alan Mc Fadden Navy Camp Wench 1..Lin Coen
Navy Camp Wench 2..Adel Navy Camp Wench 3…
Navy Camp Wench 4..
Parade Performers.
Youth Centre, Street Wise, Victoria Lagan Dancers, Sea/Marine Cadets, Ship pullers.
Ramada Performers
Ship Captains, Victoria Lagan Dancers, Sea Marine Cadets.
Event Organisers
Committee…….. Brian Willis, Sean Magee, Victoria Lagan, Paul Cullen, Bob Curran
Michael Hassan, Alice Rodhich, Liz Sterling, Hector Wishart,
Stephen Simpson.
Sponsors……….Department of Social Development, Coleraine Borough Council, Audi Belfast, Barrys Amusement Arcade, Ramade Hotel, Causeway Art Studios, Addis Blair.
Thanks for Help from the Revitalize committee to ..Mc Auley Engineering Ballymoney, Jacobs Timber, Coleraine,. Patton’s Paint, Coleraine, Mark Christie for signwriting, Sean Magee for construction, Brian Willis for design and artwork.
Mayor of Coleraine, Councillor David Harding said; “Council’s Revitalisation Programme aims to attract visitors to Portrush to stay over night, to enjoy the hospitality and to shop, whilst supporting our local businesses. Coleraine Borough Council’s tourism and events programme is second to none in Northern Ireland supporting our local residents and encouraging businesses to invest in the area. ‘Pirates off Portrush’ vision will be to achieve all of these objectives and is a FREE family event for all ages to enjoy. I encourage everyone to come and join in the fun, to hoist the Jolly Roger and to get their best pirates costume ready for the event.”
There has always been a strong link between North Antrim and Scotland. The Skerries Islands to the North East of Portrush offer good shelter and anchorage to ships and it was here that the famous Scottish Pirate Tavish Dhu often came to anchor. This event will see the creation of bringing Tavish back to life and establishing him as Portrush’s infamous Pirate.
The event will take place on dry land at two locations. The Pirates will be hoisted up on their ship in the Amphitheatre in Station Square and the Navy Captain and his crew will be camped in Antrim Gardens outside the Ramada Hotel. At 3:00pm Tavish and his pirates will sail down Kerr Street, up Lower Main Street and surprise the Navy who have been partying all night. A battle takes place with the victors parading their prisoners back to the Station to walk the plank.
As part of the Jolly Roger fun, a programme of FREE events have been organised for the day. Entertainment commences at 9:30am with some pirate fun at the Portrush Parkrun and at 11:00 am the Ramada Hotel will be running a Treasure Hunt. Everyone is encouraged to create a nautical/sea costume and children of all ages can dress up as Pirates or Sea Creatures, Shark’s or Dolphins and enter the Pirate Dress competition at 2pm at the Amphitheatre and afterwards join in as part of the parade. There will be a variety of acts in costume on display including; Pirates, Sea Creatures, Shark’s and Dolphins to name a few. Tavish Dhu the Super Pirate will be brought back to life by local actor Paul Jaffa Cullen. The serious Pirate Drama begins at 3pm in the Amphitheatre and at Antrim Gardens. Tavish’s boat will set sail from the Amphitheatre at 3:30pm and scheduled to return to the Amphitheatre to see the prisoners walk the plank at 5:00pm.
The parade centre piece will be Tavish’s Ship built by Brian Willis and Sean Magee and will be pulled around Portrush by the physically powerful men from Coleraine Rugby Club. John Mc Nally, Chairman of the Revitalisation Programme commented, “The story of Tavish Dhu’s Pirates and their connection with the Skerries dates back to the early 14th Century and has an important place in the history of Portrush.
‘Portrush Revitalisation with support from Coleraine Borough Council have organised an action packed day of events for Saturday 6th July. We would persuade all members of the public to get creative and get involved. We have a giant Octopus and the young people at the Portrush Youth Centre are making their sea-costumes over the coming weeks. The Sea / Marine Cadets will be involved, Portrush Music Society will be providing Pirates / Navy Captains, and Victoria Lagan Dancers will be adding to the spectacle. Dr Bob Curran a respected local historian will be keeping you informed about local history.”
Why not come along to join in the fun, dress-up and make ‘Pirates off Portrush’ an unforgettable experience for all generations! For more information and a full list of events on ‘Pirates off Portrush’ please contact Coleraine Borough Council Events Department on 028 7034 7220 or log onto Council’s website; www.colerainebc.gov.uk. This event is funded by the Department for Social Development.