THE People’s Republic of Cork is set to explode into life when the Rebels open up their doors and hearts to marching bands from all four corners of the globe.
Organisers of the much anticipated Cork’s flagship event of The Gathering 2013, Cork Rebel Week (October 14- 20 2013) have announced that nine Cork towns have been officially selected to host international marching bands during the forthcoming event.
The organisers issued a clarion call to the people of Cork to open up their towns and homes to bands from around the world who will descend on the city and county for the signature event of the week-long festival.
Organisers say the response to date has been staggering with towns all over the county vying for the coveted spots.
Bands from all over the globe will descend on the county for Cork Rebel Week and, in order to facilitate such a large-scale event, each of the nine selected towns will host one marching band in their locality.
The nine which have been selected to host bands from the UK, US, Europe and South America include: Clonakilty, Bandon, Bantry, Cobh, Kinsale, Skibbereen, Youghal, Mallow and Fermoy.
The week will conclude with The International Cork Parade in Cork city on October 19 and each host town is busy planning their own unique colourful float to compete and participate in the parade. Each host town has also drawn up a colourful and impressive cultural programme of events for the duration of the festival, which would suit the most discerning of culture vultures.
Highlights proposed by the host towns include a visit by celebrity A-lister Graham Norton to unveil a statue of himself, a Rebel Riverdance, markets, historical renactments, musical events, a Rebel Raft Race, food festivals, walking tours, Michael Collins tours, and an impressive line-up of kid’s events.
The towns have signed up in the region of 50 host families who have agreed to welcome band members into their homes; transport them to and from events and provide them with meals and a warm bed.
Padraic O’Kane, organiser of Rebel Week, said: “Cork people are unquestionably among the friendliest people on earth, so we were not surprised by the huge response to this. This is a unique opportunity for the people of Cork to become intrinsically embedded into Rebel Week. By hosting an internationally-renowned marching band from the UK, the US or even further afield towns are helping to drum up support, hit the right note and bring a real sense of ceremony and colour to Rebel Week. We are very excited about the impressive line-up of events each town has lined-up and we are looking forward to a colourful and action packed week.”
