Pirates Off Portrush “700 Years Dead”
Mon, June 22, 2015
PRESS RELEASE Thursday 18th June 2015 Pirates Off Portrush “700 Years Dead” One of the most popular events of the year, ‘Pirates Off Portrush’, returns to the seaside resort of Portrush on Saturday 4th July. This time, the historical pirate, ‘Tavish Dhu’, faces one of his scariest foes yet – his own ghost! The event is a community driven partnership with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and Portrush Heritage Group. It is sponsored by Roadside Garages, and part-funded by a large number of Portrush traders. It is 700 years since the death of Portrush’s dastardly pirate. For one day only, he will come alive and return to the town of Portrush welcomed by thousands of spectators of all ages who enjoy this now annual live theatre piece and street parade. At the launch of the event the Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Michelle Knight-McQuillan commented, “This is a fantastic event for the seaside town of Portrush which attracts visitors from all over Northern Ireland. “The enthusiasm of the local community in delivering this event year on year is infectious. It’s enjoyed a growth in financial commitment from sponsors and increased participation by local people all wiling to be involved in the project which is great for the community. Council is delighted to be supporting this event and will continue to work closely with Portrush Heritage Group on its delivery’’. Gracie McNally, ‘Pirates Off Portrush’ narrator who spoke at the launch night commented, “Like all good children's stories, this year's ‘Pirates Off Portrush’ will begin with this, the story of Tavish Dhu. "Once upon a time near the village of Portrush, on the islands known as the Skerries, there lived a Pirate named Tavish Dhu. Tavish was buried with his treasure but on his finger he wore the ring of revival. Legend says that after 700 years the ghost of Tavish Dhu will return to take his rightful place as the true ‘Pirate Off Portrush’. Portrush already has its own ‘Tavish Dhu’ but what he doesn’t know is that this is the 700th year since the real Pirate roamed Portrush which brings the ghost of Tavish back to Portrush"! The parade will feature Tavish’s iconic ship, The Kraken and a ‘ghost’ pirate ship with a skeleton crew, sixty dancing children in pirate dress, a samba band, cheerleaders, stilt walkers and big head characters. There will also be two linked theatre pieces at the Amphitheatre in Kerr Street and Antrim Gardens on Main Street. The day has a packed programme of treasure hunts, an outdoor disco, open top bus, street theatre and free Bam-Bam sticks and face painters. Beginning at 11.00am at the Ramada Hotel there will be a Pirate Treasure Hunt and Face Painting. At 12.00noon there will be an opportunity to visit a ‘Pirate Village’, where there will be stalls and an opportunity to meet Tavish Dhu in Station Square. At 1.00pm popular local entertainer Brian Moore continues the fun at the Amphitheatre where there will be a Pirate Dance and Pirate Dress Competition, followed at 2.00pm with an adult’s fancy dress and a chance to win the grand prize, awarded to the best dressed pirate-couple, a £100 Gordons Chemists Hamper. The pirate drama will begin at 2:30pm when Tavish confronts the ghost of Tavish. The Portrush Community Pantomime Group perform a dramatic dance supported by the Victoria Lagan Dance and Drama group and Coleraine Twirlstars. At 3.00pm the two Pirate Ships set out on a journey around town with pirates joined in the chase by a group of young pirates from the Youth Centre, an eight piece Samba Band, Stilt-walking Pirates, Big Head Characters, an Open-top Bus and vehicles from RNLI Beach Rescue and HM Coastguard. The drama will climax at Antrim Gardens when the pirates resolve their quarrel as to who is the real ‘Pirate Off Portrush’, before the defeated pirates are led back through the town to face a watery-end off the plank at the Amphitheatre. This is a free family event. Everyone is encouraged to dress-up as pirates and join-in the fun. ‘Pirates Off Portrush’ is a guaranteed fun day out and a great warm-up ahead of the tall ships arrival approximately five miles ‘off ‘the north coast the following Monday. For further details on ‘Pirates Off Portrush’ please contact the Visitor Information Centre on 028 7034 4723 or visit www.visitcausewaycoastandglens.com or the Pirates Off Portrush Facebook page.
One of the most popular events of the year, ‘Pirates Off Portrush’, returns to the seaside resort of Portrush on Saturday 4th July. This time, the historical pirate, ‘Tavish Dhu’, faces one of his scariest foes yet – his own ghost! Pictured at the launch event is Gracie McNally, narrator of ‘Pirates Off Portrush’ telling the story of Tavish Dhu. This is a free family event. Everyone is encouraged to dress-up as pirates and join-in the fun. ‘Pirates Off Portrush’ is a guaranteed fun day out and a great warm-up ahead of the tall ships arrival approximately five miles ‘off ‘the north coast the following Monday. For further details on ‘Pirates Off Portrush’ please contact the Visitor Information Centre on 028 7034 4723 or visit www.visitcausewaycoastandglens.com or the Pirates Off Portrush Facebook page.
One of the most popular events of the year, ‘Pirates Off Portrush’, returns to the seaside resort of Portrush on Saturday 4th July. This time, the historical pirate, ‘Tavish Dhu’, faces one of his scariest foes yet – his own ghost! Pictured at the launch event is the Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Michelle Knight McQuillan with little Pirate Oliver Wright. This is a free family event. Everyone is encouraged to dress-up as pirates and join-in the fun. ‘Pirates Off Portrush’ is a guaranteed fun day out and a great warm-up ahead of the tall ships arrival approximately five miles off the north coast the following Monday. For further details contact the Visitor Information Centre on 028 7034 4723 or visit www.visitcausewaycoastandglens.com or the ‘Pirates Off Portrush’ Facebook page.
One of the most popular events of the year, ‘Pirates Off Portrush’, returns to the seaside resort of Portrush on Saturday 4th July. This time, the historical pirate, ‘Tavish Dhu’, faces one of his scariest foes yet – his own ghost! Pictured at the launch event is the Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Michelle Knight McQuillan with little Pirates Maddy McNally and Gracie McNally. This is a free family event. Everyone is encouraged to dress-up as pirates and join-in on the fun. ‘Pirates Off Portrush’ is a guaranteed fun day out and a great warm-up ahead of the tall ships arrival approximately five miles off the north coast the following Monday. For further details please contact the Visitor Information Centre on 028 7034 4723 or visit www.visitcausewaycoastandglens.com or the ‘Pirates Off Portrush’ Facebook page.
One of the most popular events of the year, ‘Pirates Off Portrush’, returns to the seaside resort of Portrush on Saturday 4th July. This time, the historical pirate, ‘Tavish Dhu’, faces one of his scariest foes yet – his own ghost! Pictured at the launch event is the Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Michelle Knight McQuillan with Pirates Tavish Dhu, Penny, Garcie McNally, Maddy McNally and Oliver Wright. This is a free family event. Everyone is encouraged to dress-up as pirates and join-in on the fun. ‘Pirates Off Portrush’ is a guaranteed fun day out and a great warm-up ahead of the tall ships arrival approximately five miles off the north coast the following Monday. For further details please contact the Visitor Information Centre on 028 7034 4723 or visit www.visitcausewaycoastandglens.com or the ‘Pirates Off Portrush’ Facebook page.
One of the most popular events of the year, ‘Pirates Off Portrush’, returns to the seaside resort of Portrush on Saturday 4th July. This time, the historical pirate, ‘Tavish Dhu’, faces one of his scariest foes yet – his own ghost! Pictured at the launch event is the Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Michelle Knight McQuillan with John Moore, Creative Director, ‘Pirates Off Portrush’, Pirate, Tavish Dhu, David Boyd, Roadside Garages, Penny and John McNally, Event Producer of ‘Pirates Off Portrush’. This is a free family event. Everyone is encouraged to dress-up as pirates and join-in on the fun. ‘Pirates Off Portrush’ is a guaranteed fun day out and a great warm-up ahead of the tall ships arrival approximately five miles off the north coast the following Monday. For further details please contact the Visitor Information Centre on 028 7034 4723 or visit www.visitcausewaycoastandglens.com or the ‘Pirates Off Portrush’ Facebook page.
One of the most popular events of the year, ‘Pirates Off Portrush’, returns to the seaside resort of Portrush on Saturday 4th July. This time, the historical pirate, ‘Tavish Dhu’, faces one of his scariest foes yet – his own ghost! Pictured checking out the Mayors gold at the launch event is the Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Michelle Knight McQuillan with Pirate Tavish. This is a free family event. Everyone is encouraged to dress-up as pirates and join-in on the fun. ‘Pirates Off Portrush’ is a guaranteed fun day out and a great warm-up ahead of the tall ships arrival approximately five miles off the north coast the following Monday.For further details please contact the Visitor Information Centre on 028 7034 4723 or visit www.visitcausewaycoastandglens.com or the ‘Pirates Off Portrush’ Facebook page.
One of the most popular events of the year, ‘Pirates Off Portrush’, returns to the seaside resort of Portrush on Saturday 4th July. This time, the historical pirate, ‘Tavish Dhu’, faces one of his scariest foes yet – his own ghost! Pictured at the launch event is Pirates Tavish Dhu and Penny. This is a free family event. Everyone is encouraged to dress-up as pirates and join-in the fun. ‘Pirates Off Portrush’ is a guaranteed fun day out and a great warm-up ahead of the tall ships arrival approximately five miles off the north coast the following Monday. For further details on please contact the Visitor Information Centre on 028 7034 4723 or visit www.visitcausewaycoastandglens.com or the ‘Pirates Off Portrush’ Facebook page.