Trim on a high as it awaits Easter balloon spectacular

For the first time in Ireland or Europe, Trim will host a unique gathering of special-shaped hot air balloons for its much-anticipated Trim Hot Air Balloon Fiesta which will take place over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. The fiesta, which runs from 2nd-5th April, promises to be a spectacula,r action-packed and fun-filled weekend for all the family with up to 20 different special shaped balloons attending. Bizzy and Honey, the Boyne Valley Honey Bees will be among the star attractions as they entertain the crowds and they will be joined by many larger-than-life friends including a giant Easter chick and the Easter bunny, Thomas the Tank Engine and Sonic the Hedgehog. Weather permitting, several of the balloons will fly daily slots between 8am and 9am and again between 6pm and 7pm. The remaining balloons will be set up at various times throughout the day and will remain at the town's Porchfields to entertain the visitors who will be able to get up close to them. Visitors to Trim are also being urged to keep an eye on the skies for sky divers dropping in on targets in the field. Evening entertainment will include a 'night glow' spectacle along the Boyne. With some of these giants looming over 140 feet tall, this is sure to be a breathtaking spectacle. The programme on the ground will include family fun activities such as Easter egg hunts, model balloons, a vintage carousel, paintball, quad-biking and inflatable games plus face-painting, carousels, story-telling and balloon modelling. The Porchfields will play host to a wide variety of fiesta market stalls. Another highlight of the festival will be Trim's first 'medieval banquet' for several hundred years which takes place on Easter Sunday night in Trim Castle Hotel to celebrate the Oscar-winning movie 'Braveheart', much of which was filmed in Trim 16 years ago. Trim Town Council agreed at their January meeting to bestow the honour of the Freedom of Trim on the Australian-born actor and director Mel Gibson and it had been hoped that this could be bestowed during the festival. However, the council has not yet heard back from the Hollywood star and is to write to him again. World record balloonist Pauline Baker, who is one of the founders of the fiesta, said that the letters of invitation had been registered and were being held by US customs which they only recently realised when they tracked the letters. Another letter of invitation has been sent by regular post. At this stage, it is unlikely that Mr Gibson will attend but Ms Baker said they are also inviting the actor to participate in a live video-link during the festival and said he can receive the honour at a later stage. One special guest who will be there is pioneer aviator Brian Jones who piloted the Breitling Orbiter 3 to become the first balloon to fly around the world non-stop, taking 19 days, 21 hours and 55 minutes, during which time he and his co-pilot existed within a cramped capsule in often freezing temperatures. Mr Jones is bringing a spectacular replica of this world record-setting balloon to Trim. His first balloon flight was with an Irish pilot, Kevin Haugh, a former High Court judge who is now deceased. It was Mr Haugh who gave Brian Jones the bug for ballooning. Mr Jones is the holder of seven world records, a feat exceeded only by Trim's own Pauline Baker who holds a nine world records. All of the weekend's events will be taking place at the Porchields, beside Trim Castle, and admission is free.