Posted online: Oct 21st, 2009

Inishowen Carnival get the Halloween season off to a bright start with an Autumn Lantern parade in Carndonagh this Sunday, October 25.

The event starts at 6.30pm when the Diamond area of the town will be lit up by a variety of lanterns and light sculptures made by local artists and carnival group members. 

The parade itself will arrive in the Diamond at around 7.00pm and will feature children from a number of local schools who have been involved in lantern making workshops over the last number of weeks. 

The parade will include costumes and props from the carnival group’s 2009 Aurora production inspired by myths and legends of the Northern Lights, giving it more of an autumnal wintry feel than a Halloween theme. 

Carnival project manager, Kevin O’Neill, stressed while this was “not strictly” a Halloween parade the group would be delighted if those attending would give their Haloween costumes a “first public airing” for the occassion.

After a circuit or two of the Diamond, the parade will stop for a brief singing and choral performance by children and young people who have been working with local singing tutor and founder member of the Inishowen Gospel Choir, Siobhan Shiels, featuring a number of songs with a spooky Halloween flavour.

 Following the singing performance, the parade will make another circuit of the Diamond before heading back to the carnival offices at Tul na Ri. The lantern garden will remain switched on until around 8pm.

Mr. O’Neill said carnival group were delighted students from the Transition Year in Carndonagh Community School have volunteered to help out during the event and that performers from Inishowen Speech and Drama Classes run by Movania Parkinson will be performing in the parade.

 Halloween night itself will see the carnival group performing again as part of the Halloween Carnival in Derry where they will be joined by dancers from the Aisling Dance Academy in Ballybofey and Buncrana. The 30 strong carnival group section will feature a combination of flags, lanterns and dancers and performers with an alien theme.

Anyone wishing to take part in or help out at these events should contact 9373375 or see www.inishowencarnival.com for more details.

Mr. O’Neill said the Carnival Group was grateful to support from the Arts Council of Ireland, Donegal County Council and Inishowen Development Partnership through the Leader Programme for making the projects possible.