History of Irvine Carters' Society

The Carters' of Irvine, with their pack horses, were busy transporting loads to Glasgow and other places. They were sufficiently numerous in 1670 to form what became the Carters' Society, to which upon their flag appears their motto "Once a year we ride in state".

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After 1707, when the American trade was opened to Scottish enterprise, Irvine became the third most important port in Scotland.

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The Carters formally became instituted in 1753, with 106 members. In 1753 "by order of the magistrates and town council of Irvine" the annual fair, commonly called "Marymass Fair", which began the first Tuesday of August, is this year to be kept to the third Monday of August, and yearly in all time coming.

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In this parade each year, Carters were to participate, "mounted on horse back with his best clos and good bleu bonnet".

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In 1869 the council banned the sale of alcohol at the town moor, the from 1878 and for the next 42 years, the usual £20 was granted for the Marymass Races, on the condition no liquor be on sale.

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At Marymass 1913 there were few Carters, few councillors and a poor procession. Although the trade of horse carter was destined to disappear in an era of mother transport, the Carters' Soceity survived and by 1929 had bucked the downward trend with nearly all members of the town council enrolled as members.

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In 1925 Captain Sloan had been associating children more with the parade and in 1928, the first Marymass Queen was elected as part of a revamp of the festival.

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In 1952 the council tried to introduce motorised vehicles to the Marymass parade, this attempt was unsuccessful and later the Carters introduced into their constitution that no motorised vehicles be allowed to take part in the parade. This still stands to this day.

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To this day, the Carters have gone from strength to strength, with a strong membership and ever present involvement in Marymass.

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Text by ex. Captain Andy Tremble