THE MAYOR of Derry has thanked the people of their city for their part in a successful St Patrick’s Day.
The streets of Derry were a sea of green yesterday as thousands turned out to celebrate a Kaleidoscope of Culture and colour as the Curious Carnival made its way through the city centre.
Record numbers of over 12,000 people enjoyed Derry City Council’s annual St Patrick’s celebrations, which attracted visitors from as far away as the US and Australia who joined the locals for a Spring Carnival extravaganza in honour of our patron saint.
The Mayor, Councillor Brenda Stevenson, was there to launch the festivities which featured hundreds of local children who danced, sang and played their way along the traditional carnival route.
Speaking after the event Mayor Stevenson thanked all those who played a part in making the day such a success. “We are delighted to have been able to welcome so many people to the city over what is always one of the most popular celebrations of the year,” she said.
“The talent and energy on display today has been extremely impressive, and it’s been lovely to see so many families out celebrating together. This year the events were streamed live online for the first time capturing the fun friendly atmosphere, so loved ones from across the globe could enjoy a glimpse of home. I would like to thank Council’s events team and everyone who took part in the celebrations today, and what has been another successful event in profiling our beautiful city.
“As well as the main carnival parade there was plenty of activity around the city centre throughout the afternoon, with the Big Dig transforming the Guildhall Square into an archaeological treasure trove, and the Mayor’s Family Fun Day keeping the children entertained. There was also live music and traditional dancing at a number of locations throughout the city.”
Derry City Council’s Head of Economic Development and Marketing, Linda Williams, said the day had been a real highlight in the city’s cultural calendar.
“Once again we have staged a fantastic family event, and welcomed thousands of visitors to share in our enhanced St Patrick’s programme. The programme this year very much reflected the city’s family friendly focus, and the many activities on offer attracted a great crowd to the city centre. I am delighted to confirm that our visitor numbers are up on last year, and the message that our city is an exciting visitor destination with a fantastic offering in terms of heritage and culture is reaching new audiences every day.”
The festivities started early this year with a special community marquee at Lisnagelvin Pitches which offered a whole host of activities over the weekend including a science fair, community bingo, magic shows and traditional Irish and Scottish music and dance.
Another unique visitor attraction on view throughout the week is the stunning ‘Temple’ structure brought to the city by artist David Best, creator of the Burning Man, and Artichoke. This carefully designed piece opened to the public on Saturday March 14 and visitors are encouraged to leave personal messages at the site before the intricate structure is set alight on Saturday March 21st in what is expected to be a spectacular illumination of the city skyline.
Following on from the huge success of the St Patrick’s Day Festival, the city will be gearing up for a whole host of activities and events in the coming months, beginning with the Pan Celtic Festival of music taking place from April 7-12, followed by the City of Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival which takes over the city from April 30 – May 4, headlined by Jamie Cullum.
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