The
Marymass Festival and Irvine Carters Society
The Marymass Festival at Irvine
in Ayrshire, Scotland, is organised by Irvine Carters Society and North Ayrshire
Council. Here we offer the history, the pictures and the events of this annual
celebration.
This year's Royals: Individual
photos of Marymass Queen Courtney Finnigan, and her Marys Hayley Adair, Katie
Belsey, Stephanie Kent & Toni Lennox, are now on the Our Queens ->This
Year page. The 2007 photos appear by courtesy of Steve McKendrick and the "Irvine
Herald".
The 2006 photo selection is on the Events/Photos -> 2006 page.
| News for 2007 below | Main
site at
-> -> -> -> next
page |
The
Canadians are Coming - The
Ontario Massed Pipes and Drums will be participating in the Marymass Parade
on Saturday 25 August. Led by Senior Pipe Major Ross Baxter, who has become
a good friend of The Marymass Committee. Around 280 Canadians will be travelling
to the Festival of which 150 will be taking part in the Parade. Ross is a fan
of Marymass and keeps in touch throughout the year keeping abreast of the Festival’s
progress and development.
Marymass Gala Day - The Marymass Gala Day gets better each year. The Marymass Queen elect will open the event at 12noon on Saturday 18 August. NASAD Highland Games, children’s races, a number of voluntary organisations will be there to meet the public and the Festival Roadshow with music, games and special events.
Festival of Light Procession - Last year a Festival of Light Procession was introduced which was highly successful. Building on that success this year’s procession will leave the High Street at 9.00pm, on Saturday 18 August. Featuring some amazing attractions, SHEBOOM and a celebration of 40 years of the Marymass Folk Festival. Not to be missed.
Marymass Saturday - The consumption of alcohol in public places will not be permitted. Please take note of this change from previous years. However, there will be a designated beer tent on Irvine Moor. It is hoped that these changes will make Marymass Saturday more enjoyable for all those in attendance.
The Marymass Development Committee
and Inter-Agency Group - The Marymass
Development Committee and Inter-Agency Group meet throughout the year to plan
and arrange the Festival and to ensure that a diverse and quality programme
of events, which can be safely enjoyed by all, takes place.
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2006 Royal Party Queen
Kate Milner with her
four Marys and her two page-boys, |
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most photos on the site are by courtesy of the "Irvine Times" and Charlie Gilmour |
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items from 1867 - link on next page
Irvine Carters Society was first of all formed for business and charitable purposes and their history is as old as the Incorporated Trades of the Royal Burgh of Irvine. In 1753, 106 members subscribed to the 'Box' - this is said to have been the beginning of their charitable activities which continue to this day.
The Festival of Marymass dates back to the Middle Ages and it's the rich pageantry of this fair which draws old Irvinites home in August each year. Visitors too come from all over to enjoy the atmosphere and are never disappointed.
Interest in this fair appeared to be flagging a little in the late 1920s and credit is given to the then Provost of the Royal Burgh of Irvine, Peter S Clark, for first proposing that a Marymass Queen be chosen and crowned as a part of the ceremony. A meeting took place with the Captain of the Carters, James Sloan and members of his Society and so it was that Miss Martha McHarg, a pupil from Bank Street Primary School, was chosen to be the very first Marymass Queen in 1928. This added greatly to the event. Four local girls were also chosen to be the Queen's four Marys - as it was in the days of Mary, Queen of Scots - and two young boys were chosen to act as pages.
Although, in the 1910s, the trade of horse carter was destined to disappear in an era of motor transport, the Carters' Society survived, and the annual Marymass fair has gone from strength to strength. Entering the 21st century, the Irvine Carters Society is the only surviving carters society. No motorised vehicles are allowed in the parade.