Táin March to arrive in Dundalk this Saturday

The Táin March crew who set off from Roscommon last weekend

The Táin March will arrive in Dundalk this Saturday.

The Táin March is a fun, family event, held annually to celebrate the Táin Bo Cuailgne (The Cattle Raid of Cooley), Ireland’s most famous saga, and the warrior champions Cuchulainn and Ferdia.

Having got underway in Rathcroghan in Roscommon last weekend, it is due to arrive into this area from tomorrow.

Setting off from Kells on Friday it will march into Knockbridge, via Tallanstown where it will be greeted by young warriors.

The next day it will march from Knockbridge to Dundalk, arriving at Oriel Park for 1.30pm, before going on to the Market Square at 2pm, where there will be a range of entertainment including free face painting, a battle re-enactment, ancient Celtic cookery lessons and a meeting with the local 27^th Battalion of the Irish Army.

On Sunday it will depart Dundalk again, heading for the Lumpers, Ballymakellett and the Cooley Peninsula. The final push over the Cooley Mountains will then take place on Monday where the army meets Cuchulainn.

People are invited to dress up and meet the march along the way.

For more details visit www.tainmarch.net

Táin March gets underway next week

This year’s Táin March gets underway this day next week on Thursday June 5^th and runs until Sunday June 8^th.

The march wil take place from Ardee to Cooley and all are invited to get involved.

The proceedings will commence at 6pm on Thursday with the gathering of Maeve’s army at Ardee. There will be street fun and food served as the event is launched in Ardee Castle with a talk on the Táin epic.

The march then gets underway from Ardee the next day at 10am, arriving in Tallanstown at 12.30pm. There there will be a briefing at important locations relating to the Táin by Prof Paul Gosling.

At 1pm the march will depart Tallanstown towards Louth Village, arriving at Stephenstown Pond at 4.30pm for a re-enactment of events from the Táin.

Then at 7.30pm there will be a fascinating talk by archaeologist Professor Paul Gosling, entitled ‘Táin Bó Cúailgne & the Fords of the River Fane’. It will be followed by light refreshments and social interaction by the camp fire.

The march will then depart Knockbridge on Saturday morning at 10am towards Dundalk, stopping at Cúchulainn’s Stone at 10.30am for an information talk by Prof Gosling, who will also give a talk at Cúchulainn’s Castle at 1.30pm.

At 2pm the group will march through Dundalk town, holding a compelling re-enactment of warrior battle at the Market Square with live music by Glasheen at 2.30pm.

The army will then depart Dundalk towards the Navvy Bank at 3.30pm before sailing across Dundalk Bay, where they will enter Bellurgan Park and Tipping’s Wood at 5.30pm.

Refreshments for the army will be served soon after at the Lumper’s Bar in Ravensdale.

On Sunday the army will depart Ravensdale at 10am, gathering at Glenmore before commencing their march over the Cooley Mountains at 1.45pm. They will then descend into the village of Carlingford at 3.45pm where a re-enactment will be held at 4pm, followed by a welcome feast soon after.

For further details call Tim Mullins on 086-8184952 or Sinead Roche in Dundalk Tourist Office at 087-2463866.

Further details are also available at www.tainmarch.net

New look Dundalk Democrat hits the streets

This week’s Dundalk Democrat

A new look Dundalk Democrat has hit the streets this morning. Gone is the old red masthead and in its place is a more traditional black one. The paper also has a new slogan “your paper, your voice”.

The first headline in the new look paper is in relation to the crime epidemic in the Quay area of the town at present. There is also plenty of pictures and reaction from the Táin March and Táin Summer Festival at the weekend, as well as all the fall-out from Louth’s Leinster Championship exit at the hands of Wexford last Sunday.

All that and more in this week’s Dundalk Democrat… on sale now.

The Táin March from above

As well as a Nathan Carter concert, the Market Square in Dundalk also hosted the Táin March re-enactment at the weekend.

Thanks to Eamon Gosling and Masterpiece Aerial Photography for sharing this superb shot of the battle scene being enjoyed by all those present.