In June 2007, the Newtownards Chronicle ran a series of articles on the Gala :

The Gala as always had something for everyone. The initial few ‘gala-days’ had extended to more traditionally known ‘Gala – Week’, with new events such as Swap-shop, fishing competition and car slalom being added. The changes to the Gala programme of events were to reflect the changed times and as always to cater for the all ages. Popular televisions shows such as ‘Mr & Mrs’ were copied on stage, kids danced the night away with the out-door disco in the square and the Po was something every bar wanted!

Gala week was also something that participants looked forward too, but also put in huge amounts of preparation for. The infamous floats took scores of men and women and children with all hands to the deck, building, painting and sewing to create a spectacular, entertaining and hopefully winning float. The float itself was simply a trailer borrowed from a local farmer and towed by a tractor. On the night neither the tractor or trailer, would be recognised under the masses of painted mdf! Often the first sight of gala week was a trailer arriving at its ‘secret’ location. Building of the float begun in earnest, everyone taking pride in the their assigned task. It was these years that float building became a craft. A craft that was not going to earn you a fortune, but one that generated respect and enthused all around. Anyone involved on a float will talk about the craic and the shenanigans that went on during the building of the float, it was never a chore despite the long hours spent on creating the right look. Those that helped on the floats took immense pride in the final preparations. It was one of those rare times when men could be women and women could be men- in fancy dress! The Friday night float parade was a fitting finale to another successful Gala Week. The actual parade was made up of accordion bands from across Northern Ireland, winners of the Little Flower in open top cars, floats from bars in Portaferry and Kircubbin, and families with scores of kids in fancy dress. Thousands lined the shore front to watch the parade go by. If you were not on a float or in the parade you were likely to be at a party and BBQ that went on in almost every home across the town. The holiday atmosphere that the founders of the gala attempted to instil was certainly alive and well 20 years on!

Of course the floats were not the only things that drew in the crowds. On the Thursday night the square was packed with locals to watch the pitching of the sheaf. In scenes reminiscent of the early gala days, farmers, young and old, tried their hand at pitching a sheaf over the cross bar. Pitching the sheaf was (and still is) a popular event that celebrated local agricultural heritage. Competitors ‘pitch’ the sheaf with a pitch fork over a cross-bar. The sheaf weighs 14-16lbs and is made of 3ft rushes which are bound together before being sowed into a nylon bag. The cross bar starts at a mere 10ft and will rise to 30ft! Every competitor is given three pitches to get the sheaf over the cross- bar.

Saturday, as most will remember, was Donkey Derby day! Portaferry’s big day at the races was usually held in the Anne Street football field. Donkeys, tame or otherwise were sourced from locals and ridden by child jockeys. Bets were placed on which donkey would win the race. These stubborn mules often failed to run, leaving the jockey frantically trying to ‘jee-up’ the donkey and save the embarrassment of coming last! To mark the 40th anniversary this years Gala will include another Donkey Derby and hopefully, again, create a bucket load of laughs.

The Gala as always had something for everyone. The initial few ‘gala-days’ had extended to more traditionally known ‘Gala – Week’, with new events such as Swap-shop, fishing competition and car slalom being added. The changes to the Gala programme of events were to reflect the changed times and as always to cater for the all ages. Popular televisions shows such as ‘Mr & Mrs’ were copied on stage, kids danced the night away with the out-door disco in the square and the Po was something every bar wanted!

Gala week was also something that participants looked forward too, but also put in huge amounts of preparation for. The infamous floats took scores of men and women and children with all hands to the deck, building, painting and sewing to create a spectacular, entertaining and hopefully winning float. The float itself was simply a trailer borrowed from a local farmer and towed by a tractor. On the night neither the tractor or trailer, would be recognised under the masses of painted mdf! Often the first sight of gala week was a trailer arriving at its ‘secret’ location. Building of the float begun in earnest, everyone taking pride in the their assigned task. It was these years that float building became a craft. A craft that was not going to earn you a fortune, but one that generated respect and enthused all around. Anyone involved on a float will talk about the craic and the shenanigans that went on during the building of the float, it was never a chore despite the long hours spent on creating the right look. Those that helped on the floats took immense pride in the final preparations. It was one of those rare times when men could be women and women could be men- in fancy dress! The Friday night float parade was a fitting finale to another successful Gala Week. The actual parade was made up of accordion bands from across Northern Ireland, winners of the Little Flower in open top cars, floats from bars in Portaferry and Kircubbin, and families with scores of kids in fancy dress. Thousands lined the shore front to watch the parade go by. If you were not on a float or in the parade you were likely to be at a party and BBQ that went on in almost every home across the town. The holiday atmosphere that the founders of the gala attempted to instil was certainly alive and well 20 years on!

Of course the floats were not the only things that drew in the crowds. On the Thursday night the square was packed with locals to watch the pitching of the sheaf. In scenes reminiscent of the early gala days, farmers, young and old, tried their hand at pitching a sheaf over the cross bar. Pitching the sheaf was (and still is) a popular event that celebrated local agricultural heritage. Competitors ‘pitch’ the sheaf with a pitch fork over a cross-bar. The sheaf weighs 14-16lbs and is made of 3ft rushes which are bound together before being sowed into a nylon bag. The cross bar starts at a mere 10ft and will rise to 30ft! Every competitor is given three pitches to get the sheaf over the cross- bar.

Saturday, as most will remember, was Donkey Derby day! Portaferry’s big day at the races was usually held in the Anne Street football field. Donkeys, tame or otherwise were sourced from locals and ridden by child jockeys. Bets were placed on which donkey would win the race. These stubborn mules often failed to run, leaving the jockey frantically trying to ‘jee-up’ the donkey and save the embarrassment of coming last! To mark the 40th anniversary this years Gala will include another Donkey Derby and hopefully, again, create a bucket load of laughs.

To mark the 40th Gala, the committee have organised a Gala Ruby Ball. The Ruby ball will take place on the Sunday night of Gala week ( 15 July) at 8pm in the community Centre. The ticket, priced at £25.00 will provide you with a drinks reception, four course meal and dancing to the Chevvies. During the evening various presentations will be made to those who have significantly contributed to the Gala over the years. There will also be a special mention to those who are no longer with us, but whose names are synonymous with both Portaferry and Gala.

This years special Ruby anniversary, will include some of the old favourite events. The pram race, Donkey Derby and paper boat race all feature in the 2007 programme. The 40th birthday will also be celebrated with the biggest street party that the town has ever seen. On the Monday of Gala week (16 July) the square will host a giant childrens’ birthday party, with a huge 40th birthday cake, traditional kids games, jelly and ice cream, music and dancing and lots, lots more!

The Float parade that annually draws crowds of thousands will be enhanced with a sea monsters parade. Local school children in conjunction with the local art club are busy preparing sea monsters that will take part in the Friday float parade (20 July) and will also mark the 20th birthday of Exploris!

An additional Saturday has been added to the Gala over recent years. The Saturday after the Float parade is now know locally as Po day. Last years very deserving winning Float came from Eddie and the team down in Dumigans with their very lively and entertaining chicken run. The Po ( yes – a chamber pot) is filled with an cocktail of drink and supped in a celebratory fashion by all who take part in the float parade. If Dumigans fail to with the Float parade this year they are require to ‘deliver’ the po to the winning bar. Delivering of the Po is done in typically Portaferry Fashion, with previous deliveries being made in hearse with a coffin, boat and horse and cart. The Po is then taken on a procession around the town, stopping at each of bars that have taken part in the float parade. The Craic is mighty with each float preparing a little poem to honour the winners and the losers and possibly to stir things up a little for the next years Float parade.

As mentioned previously, the Gala provide a spooky Halloween show and Christmas ‘switching on’ event. Literally within weeks of July festivities ending the committee are back to work organising, planning and preparing for the Halloween and Christmas events. The children that take part in these events are well over 200, and they come with the same spirit as they do during gala week. Children dress up in the spooky Halloween costumes to enter the fancy dress competition, it is one of the most difficult decisions that the judges have to make when selecting the top 20 most scariest children! The Christmas event is very much in the spirit of the season. Santa arrives at the Market House on the first Saturday in December. Once again children in there hundreds wait patiently to be called by Santa to receive their early Christmas present. Once all the Children have received their gift Santa is required to ‘switch –on’ the Christmas light. The lights are lit in abundance around the square and the 20ft Christmas tree. Carols are sung by the local schools and choir groups. It is truly magical to see the Square lit up throughout the Christmas season.