The Marymass Festival and
Irvine Carters Society
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.
The 2007-08 Royals: Individual photos
of the 2007 Marymass Queen and her Marys are still on the Our Queens ->This Year page. The 2007 photo selection is on the Events -> Photos page.
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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.
Marymass Saturday - The
consumption of alcohol in public places will not be permitted. Please
take note of this revised policy, started in 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.
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photos on the site are by courtesy of the local press - the "Irvine Herald" and the "Irvine Times" and photographers Charlie Gilmour and Steve McKendrick |
|
2007 Royal Party Queen
Courtney Finnegan with her
four Marys Hayley Adair, Katie Belsey, Stephanie Kent & Toni Lennox, and her two page-boys,
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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.
hit counter had to be renewed at about 13000
