Nostalgia
In Humbert's Footsteps - Volunteers Needed
By Michael Baynes
28, Jul 2013 - 10:35

Volunteers wanted for Castlebar's Biggest Summer Festival

Do you want to be part of history and a unique event that is attracting high profile attention from as far away as France, USA and even Russia? Then your chance has arrived. The In Humbert's Footsteps Gathering event is now recruiting volunteers to help out with the festival in Castlebar on 17 and 18 August 2013.

Rebel Pikemen and Pikewomen (who will be given full training and issued with replica pikes!!!) as well as crowd control volunteers are required to ensure that this hugely anticipated event runs smoothly and becomes an annual fixture on the summer festival calendar.

An open meeting will take place on Tuesday July 30 at 9pm in the Linenhall Arts Centre where anyone interested in finding out more information about becoming a volunteer can attend. This meeting is also open to those people who have already expressed an interest in being part of this historic event.

In Humbert's Footsteps celebrates Bliain na bhFrancach -‘the Year of the French' and General Humbert's historic landing in 1798. The impressive programme of family-friendly events in a carnival atmosphere will attract widespread publicity at home and abroad. Highlights will include a faithful re-enactment of the world-famous Rásaí Chaisleán an Bharraigh-‘Races of Castlebar' in the very streets where the events originally took place.

Volunteers wanted to participate in the re-enactment of the Races of Castlebar...

The French will attack, the redcoats will counter and eventually flee pursued by the French military and volunteer pikemen and women. Complete with booming cannon guns, crackling muskets, clashing swords, and flashing bayonets, over 100 experienced military re-enactors are coming from France, England, Northern Ireland, and the Republic to recreate the atmosphere, the noise and of course, the victory. It is almost unique for a military re-enactment to take place exactly on location, so Castlebar will be the focus of a lot of attention. For this to run smoothly volunteers (over 18) are required and anyone who takes part is promised a fun and lively experience.

On Saturday and Sunday a Victorian fun fair and heritage day will take place in the grounds of the Military Barracks. Festivities will continue into the night on Saturday where there will be live entertainment and more family fun.

Following the re-enactment on Sunday, the Victory Concert Dance will take place at the Military Barracks where the crowds will be entertained by traditional Irish dancers and musicians. A spectacular fireworks display will thrill the crowds at the closing of this free family festival.

Anyone interested in having a stall at Saturday or Sunday's Heritage Days should contact Aileen Keogh on aileenkeogh11@gmail.com.

Anyone interested in volunteering for the event should contact michael@michaelbaynes.ie or attend Tuesday's (30 July 2013) 9pm open meeting and sign up with the organisers.

Full details are available on www.humbertsfootsteps.com and Facebook/inhumbertsfootsteps.

See also photographs from the official launch of In Humbert's Footsteps back in February 2013.