IRVINE'S Marymass Festival will break new ground this weekend when it exhibits at the prestigious Ayr Flower Show being held in Rozelle Estate, near Alloway, August 2-4.

The current Marymass Queen - Emma Morrison - and her Four Marys will be there on Friday and Saturday with the Queen wearing her full medieval costume, and some former Marymass Queens and Marys will also be around over the weekend to assist. Irvine Carters Society will be represented by its Captain, Danny Kerr, accompanied by an almost life-size fibre glass Clydesdale horse, and Deacon Convener of the Irvine Incorporated Trades, Harry Jack, will complete the line-up that is there to promote Marymass.

Located in a very favourable position close to the main entertainments area, a 6m x 6m marquee, suitably decorated with Marymass Festival banners and containing a specially-produced display of videos and colourful photographs showing on two 5' plasma screens, will showcase Marymass over the weekend as Irvine descends on Ayrshire's "other" Royal Burgh to sell the Festival to the 25,000 visitors who annually flock to the Ayr Flower Show.

Said Bill Nolan, a director of Marymass Festival Committee, who is co-ordinating its promotional campaign, said: "This is a massive step for Marymass and demonstrates the renewed confidence and self-belief that is evident within this year's event. Marymass has been celebrated in Irvine since at least 1372, when Irvine became a Royal Burgh, and the Festival not only recognisees the town's heritage and traditions but also looks forward positively to the future.

"Irvine has a lot going for it and Marymass is an annual opportunity for the entire community to get together and celebrate. With a whole range of new events, such as a revamped Opening Ceremony, a Harbourside Festival complete with dragon boat racing and road races, and a greater emphasis on The Marymass Races being a family fun event with picnic areas and ceilidh bands playing, Marymass offers something new and deserves to be better known.

"Every visitors spends money while here and all of this helps the local economy. Anyone visiting Irvine during Marymass will always be made very welcome."