Tens of thousands of people are on the move across the county this weekend as two major festival events are attracting a huge influx of visitors and have seen local hotels, B&Bs, and self-catering accommodation booked to capacity.
Local businesses are set to benefit in Ballina as up to 50,000 people are expected to descend on the town for the In Humbert’s Footsteps festival.
The reliving of General Humbert’s 1798 march through Mayo is shaping up to be one of the biggest battle re-enactments ever staged in Ireland.
In the west of the county, a further 15,000 people will be making their way to the grounds of Westport House for the third annual festival of music and food that has attracted a phenomenal line-up of international and Irish music and stars.
Nicola Flynn from the In Humbert’s Footsteps committee said Ballina will gain major national and international exposure from the festival, as all of the major television broadcasters in Ireland and some from abroad will be covering the event.
“Festivals like this are a way to really showcase north Mayo,” she explained. “We are putting out a great, positive, image of Ballina and we’re lucky because the town is so well-equipped to hold major festivals like this, having run the Salmon Festival for so many years. Everyone knows what to do and has worked so hard. This has demonstrated the brilliant community spirit in the area.”
She said every hotel in the town and within a 20-mile radius is booked to capacity this weekend.
While traffic restrictions are in place over the weekend, Ms Flynn advised there will be plenty of stewards on hand throughout the festival to direct visitors to parking and access points to the main events.
Nicola Watkins from the Westport Festival of Food and Music said this is the “biggest and best year yet” since the festival was launched three years ago.
“Ticket sales have been going well and we can see from the sales that people are coming not just from all over Ireland but from all over the world,” she said.
“All of the hotels, B&Bs and self-catering accommodation in the town are full so this is really bringing a big boost to Westport.”
Tickets for the festival will be on sale at the entry point to the grounds of Westport House over the weekend.
In Ballina, General Humbert and his French army will arrive in true dramatic style by torch light along Bothar na Sop tonight at 9pm.
An authentic recreation of a 1798 military army camp opens at the Old Barrack Yard tomorrow and the battle re-enactment takes place on Sunday.
Gates open at the Westport Festival of Music and Food at 12.30pm and music, comedy, and the food village continue throughout Saturday and Sunday.
For more on the festivals, visit www.humbertsfootsteps.com or www.westportfestival.com
