Saturday's Forth Port Parade, organised by the Carters, proved to be one of the biggest in a number of years, with a record number of horses taking part in the forerunner to Marymass Saturday, taking place exactly a week before the big day.
Community Groups Take Part
Community groups were well represented in the event with a community pipe band providing musical entertainment along with Newtown Defenders Flute Band. Carters' Society Past Captain Danny Kerr was encouraged with the support shown by people for the parade.
He said: “A lot of the people use the parade as a trial for Marymass Saturday. There’s a good number of horses and also a couple of floats which is good. At least it stayed dry. We start planning for this a week after Marymass is finished.”
Parade Route and Participants
The parade started on Second Avenue and set off on to Ayr Road, before going round the loops of Rubie Crescent and Lamont Drive, Merryvale Road and Scott Road. It then headed through McKingaly Crescent before heading for Harbourside and going along Montgomery Street, Harbour Street and Gottries Road before stopping at the Carters’ statue.
Eve Morrison (18) from Kilwinning was taking part in the parade for the first time with her 17-year-old gipsy horse, Davey. She said: “I have had Davey for three years and I brought him today to see how he would be. I plan to take him to Marymass next Saturday.”
Fullarton Community Hub took a contingent of members to the parade. Members played the roles of Bat-woman, Spider Girl, the Incredible Hulk and Supergirl. Helper Ashley Marshall said: “We have 25 children today from the community, quite a few from Fullarton Community Hub, the toddlers group and Loudoun Montgomery Primary School. They joined in for the first time last year and the children all loved it. They enjoyed dressing up and going along to the fun day at the Low Green.”
Evening Festival of Light
The 1st Irvine Boys Brigade took part in the parade with a float and around 25 people were involved including the leaders. Captain Alan Macaulay said: “We are moving from the Mure Relief Centre to Fullarton Connexions at the start of September so it is good to get involved in the community as we have been welcomed to Fullarton. We will also have a float in the Marymass Saturday parade.”
And later in the evening, a huge array of colour lit up the Irvine night sky as one of the growing events at Marymass attracted huge numbers to the town centre. Two stilt walkers from the Edinburgh Festival shook hands with revellers as they helped lead the Festival of Light Parade through the town centre at 9pm on Saturday to Irvine Moor for a fireworks display.
Councillor Nairn Angus-McDonald and his brother Aaran had inflatable chicken costumes while their Marymass Committee colleague Nan Gavin wore a giraffe outfit as the group went for an animal theme. Irvine Youth Forum had a team of eight marching and they chose a sporting theme. One of the members, Beaux Anderson (13) said: “I am excited about the parade, I did it last year. We will also be involved in the main parade on Marymass Saturday and everyone is excited about that.”
Pram Race and Fireworks
This year also saw the return of the famous Marymass Pram Race and a team from Tempura and Spud Buds in Irvine were victorious in what proved to be a thrilling race at the Moor. Mark Blake was the ‘baby’ inside while colleagues, Brandon van Rensburg and Lauren Wyllie did the pushing. Mark said before the event: “I drew the short straw to be pushed but we look forward to it.”
The winners edged out a team called Coney No Dae That, which was a homage to Scotland’s World Cup experience in Boston. Zoe Hood was pushed by husband and wife team, Maria and Gordon Ligat. Zoe said: “We are members of the public and were persuaded to take part by Dillon Green, one of the organisers,” Also at the Moor, a spectacular fireworks display attracted hundreds of people.
