IRVINE’S Harbour Arts Centre will celebrate its 50th birthday next month - and they need your help to organise a special event.

The iconic Harbourside venue’s golden anniversary will be marked with a year-long programme of events and activities.

Since opening on May 19, 1966, the HAC has served as one of Ayrshire’s premier music hotbeds where a host of bands - both local and international - were given their first breaks on the live stage.

Biffy Clyro, Frankie Boyle, Nik Kershaw and Irvine’s own Billy Kirkwood are just some of the acts to have appeared on the HAC’s hallowed floorboards.

To mark the special birthday, Friends of the Harbour Arts Centre have launched an appeal to help them commemorate the very first event that took place at the HAC.

The late great writer William McIlvanney gave a reading of poems on its debut night on May 19, 1966.

Friends of the HAC are looking to see if anyone has a copy of McIlvanney’s Longships in the Harbour and These Words, Weddings & After (published in 1970 and 1984) for a possible reading this coming May 19.

They are simply asking to borrow the books and are eager to find anyone who has them in their possession.

The group are also working on a number of other events in honour of the HAC’s 50th year.

A family fun day to replace the Harbourside festival on August 6 and a corporate fundraising dinner on August 13 have already been pencilled in.

But Friends of the HAC are drawing up plans for new plays, a Burns evening and even a burlesque night.

Discussions have also taken place about the venue hosting North Ayrshire’s first ever gaming tournament which could bring competitors from across the country to North Ayrshire.

The event on May 19 will be an exhibition about the venue’s history. Snacks and wine are on offer and will take place between 7pm and 9pm.