Dublin celebrates start of world famous Spanish festival

Dublin People 06 Jul 2016
Dublin celebrated the start of San Fermín with a barbecue at the Church Pub

DUBLIN celebrated all things Spanish this week to mark the beginning of the annual San Fermín fiesta, which starts today and runs until July 14.

To mark the event, the Spanish Tourism Office in Dublin held a colourful barbecue at The Church pub in the city centre.

The city of Pamplona is world famous thanks to its San Fermín fiestas. Thousands of people travel there every year to experience the risk and excitement of the popular running of the bulls, immortalised by Ernest Hemingway in his novel Fiesta’. For nine days, Pamplona residents and visitors alike, dressed typically in red and white, get carried away by the continuous festive spirit that invades the streets.

San Fermín started today at midday with the launch of the chupinazo from the balcony of the town hall. The firing of this rocket marks the official start of the fiesta.

The first running of the bulls will be held tomorrow morning at 8am when the doors of the Santo Domingo corral are opened. The event will see hundreds of people run in front of the bulls on their route through the old town to the bullring.

One of the most exciting moments happens a few minutes before the start of the running of the bulls, when participants entrust themselves to San Fermín, singing three times in front of a small statue on Cuesta de Santo Domingo Street.

Every morning, during the fiestas, there is parade of ‘giants and big-heads’ through the centre of the city for the little ones to enjoy. The festival programme also includes open-air celebrations, concerts, dance exhibitions and, of course, bullfights. They tend to be lively events, as organised groups of bullfighting fans pack the stands.

San Fermín finishes on July 14 at midnight, when the crowds make their way to the Town Hall Square and, with candles alight, sing ‘Pobre de mí’ to bid farewell to the fiesta until next year.

Visit www.spain.info

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