Carnival parade brings community festival to a close

A festival celebrating local communities in Londonderry will come to a close later with a carnival parade in the city.

More than 150 events have taken place over the 11 day run of the Derry Féile, which organisers say is among the largest community-led festival on the island of Ireland.

It draws to a close on Saturday with the Our Place, Our People parade celebrating the history and people of the city's Bogside and Brandywell.

"Our neighbourhood is a unique place that has been through a lot, but we have an amazing story to tell and no better way to do that than with a colourful celebration," Féile's Eibhlín Morrison said.

She said residents, sports clubs and community groups had spent months helping to create a carnival atmosphere while also reflecting the area's history.

The parade, organisers say, starts with the origins of St Colmcille, includes the campaign for civil rights, and celebrates local people including footballer Ryan McBride and Sr Clare Crockett.

Now in its 34th year, this year's Derry Féile has hosted events in more than 40 venues across the city, including in the Bogside, Brandywell, Bishop Street, Creggan and Fountain areas as well as the city centre.

Féile's Gareth Stewart said it gave people the chance to "celebrate everything that is great about these neighbourhoods".

He said it also encouraged visitors from across the city and beyond to experience the communities for themselves.

Nicole Connor, who attended the carnival with her children, said the event is great for the community.

"It's a nice dry day, and the weans are having a great time," she said.

Organisers estimate more than 20,000 people have attended since the festival opened on 5 August. Its programme has included, sport, film, street performances, community events, political debate and music.

On Thursday, Dublin recording artist Sello held a hip hop workshop, looking at the craft and business of music making at a recording studio in the city as part of Féile.

Sello said the workshop was "about reaching out" and impacting on young people's lives.

"Music has always helped me deal with my emotions," he said, adding if any young person is inspired to write music based on their experiences, then his "job is done".

Shea Lynn was among the aspiring young artists taking part.

"I've been involved music ever since I was younger and I've been doing it since I was about 11 or 12 and I've had a lot of inspiration through the likes of probably Sello himself, and other big rappers," he told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme.

Other musicians performing have included Madra Salach, while David Kitt and DJ Mano Le Tough are due to bring the festival's curtain down with performances I the city later on Saturday.

Stormont First Minister Michelle O'Neill, Bernadette McAliskey, Professor Debbie Ging, Irish language commissioner Pól Deeds and Dr Susan Lagdon have been among the figures taking part in the festival's well established debate and discussion programme.

The festival programme places a strong emphasis on family and community events each year, organisers say.

Hundreds of runners took part in a Superheroes Race and the annual 5K Jog in the Bog while there were tea parties and dances and circus shows over the course of Féile.

The Greatest Show took circus performers across the area's play parks.

There were tea parties and dances, circus performers while a closing family fun day in Creggan on Saturday will includes BMX stunts, a fire and circus show and freestyle football.

Mayor of Derry Grace Uí Niallais said Féile "brings communities together".

"The best days are the family days," she said, adding the festival reminds people "how important communities are".

Féile Laughs brought comedians Paddy Raff, Lianne McCooey and Ro Boyle to Derry, while hundreds of young football fans got a behind the scenes look at their heroes when Derry City FC opened its training session at the Ryan McBride Brandywell.

More than 1,000 fans watched the session with Derry City boss Mark Connolly saying it had been an incredible event.

"It's important that we do more initiatives like this and we are working hard behind the scenes, alongside the community, to make sure the club is at the heart of everything that is going on," he said.

Saturday's parade starts at Charlotte Street at 13:00, makes it way through Bishop Street, the Bogside and finishes at the mural of Sr Clare Crockett in the Brandywell.