Carrickfergus Castle to be the backdrop for Centenary Lumiere on Saturday 30 October

The walls of the historic Carrickfergus Castle will act as a projection screen for a stunning Centenary Lumiere on Saturday 30 October.

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

As well as Waking the Dragon, 100 years in Mid and East Antrim and Music through the Decades, both of which have been specially commissioned for the Northern Ireland Centenary, 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.

With the dragon once more imprisoned, the second part of the show explores some of the rich history of the Carrickfergus area, including its fishing and linen industries, the sail past of the Titanic, the area's unique role in the first and second World Wars.

Council has also commissioned a new film to celebrate the last 100 years of Northern Ireland, and 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.

Visit midandeastantrim.gov.uk/lumiere for regular updates and use #Carricklumiere when sharing your pics on social media.

Covid19 controls:

Testing is strongly recommended at least 24hours before the event and on days 2 and 8 after the event.

Do not attend if you have any covid-19 symptoms

Use the hand sanitisers on site

Keep social distancing

Throughout 2021, Council is hosting a programme of events under the NI 100 umbrella to celebrate 100 years since the formation of Northern Ireland.

These events, exhibitions and community initiatives are all aimed at showcasing and championing culture, heritage, education, history, and future prosperity throughout the Mid and East Antrim Borough.