Carrickfergus Castle to light up for 'Centenary Lumiere' display

The specially commissioned event, hosted by Mid and East Antrim Council, will run from 6-9pm and feature three short movies on rotation.

It is part of ongoing programme of events in the borough to mark the 100th anniversary of Northern Ireland.

As well as Waking the Dragon, ‘100 years in Mid and East Antrim’ and ‘Music through the Decades’ will be showcased on the evening.

The films will be displayed on the walls of the castle using a technique known as projection mapping, with three co-ordinated projections producing 90ft tall images.

The animated Waking the Dragon tells the story of a mighty dragon imprisoned beneath the castle’s ancient walls.

When the dragon escapes, three brave knights are called to action to battle the ferocious beast.

This fantasy history of Carrickfergus Castle was specially written by Kerry Rooney MBE from Kaleidoscope NI and was inspired by the Three Knights sculpture on Carrickfergus seafront.

The film features hand drawn animations created by local artist, Ralph Connolly.

The second part of the show explores some of the rich history of the Carrickfergus area, including its fishing and linen industries and the area’s unique role in the first and second World Wars.

Viewers will be taken on a whistle stop tour of the last 100 years of history through music and archive images of Mid and East Antrim.

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough, Councillor William McCaughey, said: “I am delighted to be able to welcome everyone in our community to this very special event in the historic town of Carrickfergus.

“The story of 100 years of Northern Ireland will be brought to life in an iconic location, and will be the perfect opportunity for us all to reflect on the rich heritage and diversity which flows through Mid and East Antrim.”

Councillor Cheryl Brownlee, Chair of Council’s Northern Ireland Centenary Working Group, added: “It has been a real privilege to see the fantastic range of ideas, stories and events which have formed the basis of Council’s Centenary celebrations during 2021.

“There is so much for us to be proud of in our borough and I congratulate all those involved in the organisation of the Centenary Lumiere in Carrickfergus.”

The event will begin at 6pm with all three short films on rotation until 9pm.

Admission is free and no tickets are required.

Covid19 controls:

Testing is strongly recommended at least 24hours before the event and on days two and eight after the event.

Do not attend if you have any Covid-19 symptoms

Use the hand sanitisers on site and keep social distancing.