On Sunday 31 July, the second annual Lúnasa Festival was launched at the Flagstaff Fiesta. The Fiesta is a recreation of a gathering last held at the Flagstaff viewpoint outside Newry over forty years ago.
The dramatic views across the Ring of Gullion that can be seen from the Flagstaff is a great setting from which to launch the month-long Lúnasa Festival, which will see activities taking place every day right around the Ring from Forkhill to Jonesborough and from Mullaghbane to Meigh and of course on the slopes of Slieve Gullion itself.
The Fiesta, last held in 1970, will be a fantastic family fun day, with everything from Curragh racing on the canal to wildlife walks and finishing with all the fun of the fair, balloon modelling, face-painting, and traditional fairground rides on the Flagstaff where a new flag commemorating the links between Fathom and the port of Newry will be flown for the first time.
The variety of activities on the day will give a taster of some of the events that will be taking place throughout August for the Lúnasa celebrations. These range from guided bus tours and hikes, to arts and crafts, taking in attempted murder and zombie apocalypses on the way!
The Lúnasa Festival was launched by Newry Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson Councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick who said: “We, as a Council, have built a strong reputation for hosting high profile events and festivals, this would not have developed without the support of community event organisers, professionals, passionate individuals, artists, historians and businesses from right across the district.
“We, alongside the Newry Maritime Association have put together yet another fantastic day out for all the family with live music and a wide range of activities and we truly believe that the Flagstaff Fiesta will be a spectacular launch to the Lúnasa Festival 2016.”
The Lúnasa festival is part of The Ring of Gullion Landscape Partnership, a Heritage Lottery Fund’s programme to conserve and enhance some of the region’s most treasured landscapes.
