A FIESTA of fabulous folk music filled Fishguard over the bank holiday weekend.

The buzz of live music from over fifty separate events in Fishguard and Lower Town spilled into the streets and visitors from as far afield as Australia were drawn to the town to enjoy the feast of folk on offer.

Music and dancing, workshops and smuggler's walks characterised the festival, with most events free of charge. The festival was brilliantly attended with many bands playing to full houses and standing room only at others.

Free workshops allowing visitors to try new skills or develop existing ones were well-attended. The sun shone for the popular Pirate and Smugglers Walk, led by Gary Jones, with walkers being regaled Figurehead, a shanty crew from Cornwall, at the end of their stroll.

The Royal Oak was this year once again in full swing where the regular session musicians were joined by guest players.

In Theatr Gwaun Andreas Tophoj and Rune Barslund from Denmark gave a stunning performance on Saturday. Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar were a popular choice in the theatre on Sunday night, and the Dovetail Trio, with Moore Moss Rutter provided the festival finale concert of the weekend at midday on Monday.

The festival's closing ceremony included a mummers play. Based loosely on the last invasion of Britain in 1797, the colourful characters provided a humorous end to proceedings with a call to all to 'Come back next year'.

"We would like to thank all those who made the event possible, our sponsors and all those who supported the festival by advertising in the programme," said festival committee chairman Jude Whitehouse.

"Thanks must go too to all those who worked so hard throughout the weekend, especially the volunteers in Theatre Gwaun who give of their time freely throughout the year so the venue is available for events like the folk festival."