A flag-tastic spectacle for a colourful town

A COLOURFUL display of flags, logos and emblems greeted visitors and locals during last weekend’s successful Bratacha festival in Dun Laoghaire.

Bratacha, the Irish for

‘flags’ featured exhibitions, a geneaology village, traditional music and embassy celebrations as well as a spectacular grand parade of representatives from over 40 countries brandishing their national flags.

Participants arrived from as far afield as Mongolia, South Africa and Canada and every EU member nation to take part in the gala celebration.

One of the highlights was a stunning sea of colour that descended on Dún Laoghaire last Saturday as hundreds of flags representing various cultures, sports clubs, societies and organisations made its way from the People’s Park, through the town and along the seafront.

Various marching bands including the Irish Army Pipe Band, the Irish Prison Officers’ Pipe Band and the Dublin Fire Brigade Pipe Band led the way as antique and vintage cars, floats and marching groups provided the entertainment for the people of all ages who gathered to watch the spectacle.

The official launch of Bratacha on Thursday in Cabinteely Park saw the unveiling of

‘Europe in Bloom’, a wonderfully designed garden with herbaceous beds representing the colours of each member state of the Europe Union.

A specially-designed Bratacha 2013 flag was then raised by Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore to mark the opening of the festival.

Later there was a wine reception to mark the beginning of the Exhibition of Flags & Emblems at the National Maritime Museum of Ireland on Haigh Terrace.

On Friday there were exhibitions, lectures and seminars in various locations and the opening of a

‘History & Genealogy Village at Harbour Square.

The historian, writer and broadcaster, Myles Dungan, narrated

‘The Fighting Irish – in defeat, in victory – the music lives on’ that was staged at the Pavilion Theatre on Friday evening.

Saturday was family day with the gala parade assembling at the People’s Park and exhibitions and events taking place throughout the day.