A CELEBRATION OF Celtic culture, communities and the waterways will be taking over New Ross next Saturday and Sunday, September 11 and 12 when the Celtic River Festival gets underway.

New Ross Celtic River Festival promises to be a celebration of a unique relationship that has existed from the earliest times between New Ross town and the River Barrow.

To complement the festival, the organisers are focusing on the proud Celtic culture of the town through its music, dance and entertainment.

The Saturday of the festival is jam packed with events with the Barrow Challenge 12-mile boat race from St. Mullins to New Ross taking place at 9 a.m. followed by a BBQ at New Ross Boat Club at 12.30 p.m. Contact John Dimond on 087 2121161 for further details.

From 12 p.m. until 5 p.m. there will be canoeing taking place from the Boat Club and one of the highlights of the weekend will take place at 2 p.m. when the Small World Theatre travels over from Wales with their beautifully handmade giant puppet of Bran, who will make his entrance to New Ross straight out of the River Barrow. This spectacular event will represent a Guinness World Record attempt for the biggest ever human powered giant.

Boat trips from the Three Sister Marina will be taking from place from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m., at 3 p.m. there will be a traditional boat builders regatta at the Boat Club followed by a seafood buffet at 5 p.m. Participants must be registered before the events by contacting Alex Kelly on 086 1070631.

A fishing contest will also be held throughout the day at Oaklands Lake in Marshmeadows.

Free street concerts will be taking place on a special stage on South Street with popular Wexford trad group Danescastle performing from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m., followed by the Cairde Ceoil Harp Ensemble at 5 p.m. and Noel Glynn, who is a blind accordion player at 6 p.m. Altan, known by many as the biggest band in traditional Irish music, will be taking to the stage at 7 p.m.

The Sunday of the festival will see the Thomas McDonagh Schooner sailing out from the New Ross Quays at 12 p.m. with the twelve lucky winners of the New Ross VIC shopping competition and at 2 p.m. the ISA National Powerboat Racing Championship will be taking place where spectators can see firsthand some of the fastest boats in Ireland compete in this important championship.

On South Street, Danescastle plus local talent with a Celtic vibe will be performing from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. and at 6 p.m. the New Ross and District Pipe Band Celtic Weave will be performing, followed by Kila at 7 p.m. A great array of street entertainment is planned for the weekend with al fresco dining taking place on Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon until 6 p.m. A street carnival will be taking place on Saturday from 3 p.m. until 10 p.m. and on Sunday from 2 p.m. until 9 p.m. A dazzling carnival parade will be staged on Saturday at 3 p.m. Over at the Ros Tapestry Exhibition Centre a maritime exhibition will be taking place. All relevant organisations are welcome to display their information and for further information contact Alex Kelly on 086 107 0631 or at alexbkelly@hotmail.com

- ELAINE FURLONG