PACKED: A large crowd takes in the Greasy Pole challenge at Irvine Moor (Image: Marymass Festival)
Organisers have praised the huge turnout at one of Scotland’s largest community festivals following a packed Marymass Saturday in Irvine.
Thousands of people descended on the North Ayrshire town for a day of events including horse racing, live jousting, the traditional Marymass parade and the crowning of this year’s Marymas Queen.
The day began with the judging of horses in Irvine Town Centre before the parade made its way through the town, leading to the crowning ceremony at Irvine Townhouse at midday.
The year-long preparations by the Irvine Cartiers’ Society and Marymass Festival appeared to have paid off, with organisers saying they believed this year was the biggest yet.
ON A ROLL: The Marymass Saturday Parade moves through Irvine Town Centre (Image: Marymass Festival)
A statement, Marymass Festival said: “The crowds, the weather, the atmosphere, the love for Marymass. You’ve made a wee team of tired volunteers very happy.
“We can’t recall the moor or the Greasy Pole hill being so busy as what we saw yesterday. The parade was longer, the crowds were bigger watching it and the Moor was packed with people enjoying everything we have to offer. We’ve got a few more days of work left but once again.”
The afternoon continued at Irvine Moor with the traditional Greasy Pole challenge which attracted large crowds to witness the first all-female team to take part since the 1990w
The line-up of Now Ayrshire Radio’s Amanda Jean, Ali Wright, Rebecca Campbell, Lauren McGregor and local wrestling star Kara Shaw just missed out on the challenge but were hailed for their “great efforts”.
The night before saw the 100th edition of the Marymass derby contested between local rivals Irvine Meadow and Irvine Victoria, with the Medda coming out 2-0 victors to continue their dominance in the fixture.
Despite this year’s celebrations only just coming to an end, organisers revealed that planning for next year’s festival will begin as early as the first week of September.
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