Castlebar Christmas Carols Pub Trail is set to get under way

THE inaugural Castlebar Christmas Carols Pub Trail is set to get underway.

The event, organised by Castlebar Concert Band with the assistance of Mick Baynes, starts tomorrow (Friday) evening at 6.30 p.m.- the first of six nights of the initiative to bring the band's selection of festive carols to a wider audience.

On each of the six nights – December 8, 9, 15 16, 22 and 23 – the band will visit four establishments between 6.30 and 8.45 p.m. to perform a selection of carols, including 'Silent Night', 'Adeste Fideles', 'In The Bleak Mid-Winter', 'Hark the Herald', 'O Holy Night', 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas', 'The Coventry Carol', 'Away in a Manger', 'Jingle Bells' and many more. There will also be a few surprises along the way.

The opening night will see band members visit The Bodhran, Stacks, The Harp and Paddy Moran's on Rush Street. The following night (Saturday), the sound of brass will emanate from The Connaught Inn, Tolster’s, Ray’s and The Castle Inn in the Spencer Street and Castle Street district.

The trail returns the following Friday, December 15, when the pubs featured are The Irish House, Bar One, Mick Byrne’s and The Bungalow Bar in the Main Street and Ellison Street area.

On Saturday, December 16, the band will drop into Flynn’s, Mulroy’s, The Yew Tree and Johnny McHale’s.

During Christmas week, a further eight premises will host the band.

On Friday, December 22, carols will be played in Sloyan’s, The Cobweb, Rocky’s and Cox’s at Linenhall Street and Tucker Street.

On the final night - Saturday, December 23 - The Ivy Tower Hotel, Bridge St, Coady's Bar and Bosh are on the rota.

All proceeds raised from the trail will be invested in the band's programme of activities, with a percentage allocated to its trip to New York in May 2019 for Mayo's Connaught SFC championhip clash with New York, at which the band is booked to play and lead the parade of the teams.