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Lady Godiva pageant brings Irish to the streets of Coventry
 By
Brendan Farrell
The life and times of Lady Godiva have been celebrated in Coventry ever since
her death in September 1067.
For hundreds of years the city’s trade guilds had kept ‘Dame
Goodyves Day’ as a feast of celebrations.
Over the years the celebrations died out but now the feast has been rediscovered
and tells the story of Coventry and its multi-cultural, multi-faith and
multi-talented people.
Each year the annual Godiva Sisters pageant parades through Coventry and
the ruins of Coventry’s old cathedral.
A host of local schools and community groups join in the music, song and
dance of this colourful and dramatic spectacle.
This year pupils from the local Christ the King primary school and Irish
dancers with the Coventry-based Maggie Gallagher School began the pageant
with a colourful and lively display.
Members of Coventry’s Teach na hÉireann Centre also attended.
Coventry’s official Lady Godiva — Pru Poretta — has
long been a friend of the city’s Irish community and has attended
most of the major Irish social and cultural events in the city.
And it was Ms Poretta who instigated the role of the Godiva Sisters into
what is now an annual colourful pageant with each sister representing
a different country and its culture.
Dublin-born Carmel Silver has taken on the role of Irish-born Christina
Noble whose work for disadvantaged children is renowned worldwide.
Ms Silver, a talented Irish language speaker and singer, is also a member
of Coventry’s Teach na hÉireann Centre.
n See next week’s Irish Post for more pictures from Coventry’s
Godiva Sisters pageant. |
