Are you ready to hear their roar?
It’s going to be a totally awesome sight as GlenarmCastle prepares to shake under the thunder of Scotland’s ‘Champion of Champions’ Strongmen at the Highland Games this July Bank Holiday 13th and 14th July, as part of P&O Ferries Dalriada Festival in partnership with UTV.
This giant, must-attend family event, which last year welcomed over 22,500 visitors will also feature numerous music and dance stages, fine foods& celebrity chefs, displays / exhibitions, shopping, gardens, children’s entertainment including a GIANT Ferris Wheel, helicopter pleasure flights and much much more; all under the spectacular backdrop of Glenarm Castle.
Now in its 20th year, this year’s Highland Games will see Scotland’s ‘Champion of Champions’ have their strength, passion and pride tested against each other. Visitors will watch in awe as these giant men showcase the skill and determination that made them champions at other competitions throughout the world. Eight champions will demonstrate athletic skills and determination through games such as tossing the caber, Scots hammers and throwing massive weights at a distance all to win the battle and claim the title of Dalriada Champion of Champions.
Can I get a bah, an oink and a bleat? What have you got? The Wacky B.O.B show – the world’s only sheep, pig and goat extravaganza replaces last year’s much talked about Sheep Fashion Show! Fantastic cash prizes are available for the wackiest dressed animal! So get designing and get your B.O.B on for Sunday 13th July at the Highland Games. Riding on the wave of the recent rise in popularity of country music P&O Ferries Dalriada Festival is also delighted to welcome Irish country singing legend Mike Denver to headline. Mike and his band along with special guests will headline Dalriada LIVE on Monday 14th July following the 2nd day of the Highland Games. His performance will come hot on the heels of rising country star Nathan Carter who makes a return to DalriadaLive following his sell out performance last year. Nathan and special guests will take to the stage on Sunday 13th July after the first day of the Highland Games.
Following the Highland Games and DalriadaLIVE Concerts, and from 15th – 19th July,the stunning village of Glenarm and wider community will further host an action packedprogramme of events including Super Endurocross, a beach mounted rally, Dalriada Wipeout, Kids duathalon, the Big Fun Run and much more. There will also be traditional entertainment, food, games and local culture at the Auld Hirin’ Fair on Friday 18th July, and at the heart of the village – Hymns and Haybales. New to the community element of the festival this year is Dalriada SESSIONS featuring traditional music from Haste to the Wedding, gypsy jazz swing with a twist Manouche Swing and the award winning JP Mac’s The Jonny Cash and June Carter Show. The Festival will close on Saturday 19th July with a spectacular fireworks display, street entertainment, rowing regatta, fancy dress parade, live music and lots more.
Adrian Morrow, Festival Director, commented;
“The P&O Ferries Dalriada Festival in partnership with UTV is looking forward to welcoming the ‘Champion of Champions’ from Scotland for the Highland Games at this year’s festival. These strongmen will be a sight to behold and will no doubt hold our visitors in awe. We are also very privileged to have Mike Denver as part of our DalriadaLIVE musical line up. Country music has seen a recent surge in popularity and with Mike Denver following on from Nathan Carter the festival is definitely the place to be if you are a country fan. New for this year is the wacky B.O.B show which is a follow on from our Chic Sheep event which has always proved very popular. As always the festival includes the local Glenarm community – without them, our staff, volunteers and sponsors especially P&O Ferries, UTV and NITB we wouldn’t be able to return year after year with such a fantastic, family event. We also welcome the SANDS charity this year. We hope, with the support of our visitors, to raise lots of money for this very worthwhile cause.”
Joanna Walsh from P&O Ferries, title sponsor of the event, said;
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”P&O Ferries is proud to be title sponsor for the 2014 Dalriada Festival. Once again the organizers have surpassed themselves and are presenting a programme packed with excitement and entertainment for the whole family. With the promise of incredible music acts, fine foods, arts and crafts it really is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever before. As operators of the fastest ship on the most direct and convenient route on the Irish Sea P&O Ferries is very much looking forward to welcoming on board the ever growing number of visitors who travel from Scotland each summer to enjoy this spectacular event and we wish everyone involved every success.”
Michael Wilson, Managing Director, UTV added;
“UTV is delighted to join forces once again with the P&O Ferries Dalriada Festival in Glenarm which promises to deliver a fabulous week for all the family this July. We look forward to capturing the essence of the activities taking place on the North Coast of Antrim on UTV for all our viewers, with regular updates online on u.tv and interviews on U105.”
Eddie Rowan, Event Manager Northern Ireland Tourist Board:
“The Northern Ireland Tourist Board is once again pleased to support the P&O Dalriada Festival. It is a pleasure to see this fantastic festival grow from strength to strength as it continues to significantly increase visitor appeal to the North Coast of Antrim. The range and quality of activity on offer will not only generate a substantial impact on the economy but also contribute to Northern Ireland’s positive profile as an attractive destination. I wish all the participants and visitors a very memorable trip to Northern Ireland and to Glenarm for this action packed week of events.”
Admission to the community events is FREE. Gate Admission applies for the Champion of Champions Highland Games at £10 for Adults, £7.50 for Senior Citizens and £5 for Youth (12-16), children under 12 are FREE. Tickets for DalriadaLIVE, both the Nathan Carter and Mike Denver Concerts, are priced at £25 plus booking fee and available at www.dalriadafestival.co.uk or www.ticketmaster.ie