The Marymass Festival
at Irvine in Ayrshire, Scotland, is organised by Irvine Carters Society
and North Ayrshire Council. Browse here for its history, with pictures
of this annual celebration.
'Marymass
Festival 2009' by Steve McKendrick ** over 400 photos ** From
the 'Irvine Herald' office, Bank St., Irvine, £14.99 - more
information
For
2009 photos, go to EVENTS & PHOTOS > Photos
2009
For Guest Book, go to HOME/CONTACTS > Our
Guestbook
2010
Marymass Queen Vicky Burns, and her four Marys Kayleigh Doherty, Leanne
Bingham, Heather McLarnon and Lauren McGill
The official programme
will be published, and will appear on this site, at the end of July
2009
Queen Laurie Swan, with Adrienne Thomson, Helen Kennedy, Stephanie Kane
& Ainsley Storrie
other 2009 photos in Photos section (photos: Steve McKendrick)
Marymass Saturday - The consumption
of alcohol in public places will not be permitted. Please
take note this policy, implemented from 2007. However, there is a designated
beer tent on Irvine Moor. These changes are intended to ensure that Marymass
Saturday is more enjoyable for all those in attendance.
The Marymass Development
Committee and Inter-Agency Group
meets throughout the year to ensure a diverse and quality programme of
events, which can be safely enjoyed by all.
2007: The Canadians Returned
- The Ontario Massed Pipes and Drums
returned for the 2007 Marymass Parade - led by Senior Pipe Major Ross Baxter
(a Marymass fan), who has become a good friend of the Marymass Committee.
Around 280 Canadians travelled to the Festival of which 150 took part in the
Parade.
photos on the
site are by courtesy of the local press - the "Irvine Times" and
the "Irvine Herald" and photographers Charlie Gilmour and Steve McKendrick
respectively
2007 Royal Party Queen
Courtney Finnegan with her
four Marys Hayley Adair, Katie Belsey, Stephanie Kent & Toni Lennox, and her two page-boys,
accompanied by Captain John Rorison
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 the
rich pageantry of this fair 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.
