Pounding drums, tambourines, castanets and whistles competed to be heard on the streets of Drogheda yesterday as the Louth town celebrated the sounds of South America.
With over 80 samba drummers pounding their way down West Street, the carnival sounds were closer to Rio de Janeiro than Louth. They were taking part in Drogheda's eighth Samba Festival - a celebration of Brazilian rhythm and Latin sound.
The festival had over 40 Latin acts from Brazil, the United States, England, Scotland, and even Ireland. The Brazilian performer Dudu Tucci was a very popular choice to headline the festival, according to Mr Paul O'Hanrahan, the festival organiser.
The craze for samba started in Drogheda in the early 1990s when Waterboys musician Colin Blakey moved to the town and formed a samba band.
Similar bands and festivals sprung up around the State at that time, but the Drogheda festival has outlived many of them, Mr O'Hanrahan said. "It's quite a phenomenon that it has lasted so long here and now it's turned into a kind of cult festival."
The festival has turned into a celebration of music much broader than samba, with bossa nova, jazz, reggae and funk sounds drifting from pubs and clubs in the town.
The success of the festival was all the more crucial this year, following the foot-and-mouth crisis in the county.
Four months ago, disease control checkpoints were causing endless traffic jams in the town. But yesterday the only tailbacks were caused by samba enthusiasts queuing at fast-food outlets after the parade.
"Not only did foot-and-mouth curtail activities but it also affected people's mentalities. We didn't know if the festival would go ahead, or if we would have to cancel events," Mr O'Hanrahan said.
"So it's great to see so many people out enjoying themselves again."
