Family Festival Evening

May 2006 is the 400th Anniversary of the Hamilton & Montgomery 1606 Settlement from the Lowlands of Scotland into Ulster. “The Dawn of the Ulster Scots” will be the theme of this major outdoor family festival evening to be held at Donaghadee seafront, the landing place of those first settlers.

The evening includes a superb line-up of acts and performers:
- Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band (www.fmmpb.com)
- Hamilton Silver Flute Band (www.hamiltonflute.co.uk)
- Kirkistown Pipe Band
- Valhalla Street Players will be performing a shortened version of “18 Miles to Freedom”, their stage play about the Hamilton & Montgomery Settlement which had its premiere performance in the Web Theatre in Newtownards in early May.
- Historical maritime reenactment
- Ulster-Scots Language performances by Will Cromie and Will McAvoy
- “Beggar’s Row” – described as the best live band in Scotland
- Major Fireworks display

The Agency has also launched a generic leaflet summarising the story of the Settlement (which will be distributed to all Councils during the year) a large 34 site Hamilton & Montgomery Heritage Trail wallchart publication, a travelling exhibition system and a web site. The web site can be found at www.HamiltonMontgomery1606.com, and as further research into the Settlement takes place the site will be added to regularly.

“The Dawn of the Ulster Scots” will be a great night in Donaghadee – we hope you can join in the celebrations.