The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
THE night skies over Lough Derg were illuminated with fireworks, as the new year dawned, marking the start of the Brian Boru Millennium Celebrations – Killaloe Ballina 2014.
It’s a year-long festival, built around the famous High King of Ireland, who was killed after victory in the Battle of Clontarf in 1014. The aim of the organising committee is to “reclaim” during 2014 Killaloe’s place as capital of Ireland, as it was during the Clare king’s reign.
On New Year’s Eve, people from near and far descended on the twin towns to witness a ceremonial march from four locations to meet at Kincora, the spot where Brian’s palace once stood.
In addition to the launch, the festival will include four other key anchor events:
- Killaloe Ballina St. Patrick’s Festival
- April Millennium Commemorations
- Féile Brian Boru 2014, leading a packed summer programme including the Killaloe Pink Ribbon Walk
- October 10.14 Celebrations
The festival will also see the launch of the new National Brian Boru Trail, which will tell the incredible story of our High King and life in Ireland a thousand years ago.
