Villagers furry dance

Gala Day takes place on Shrovetide or the weekend leading up to Shrove Tuesday and the Christian season of Lent. Traditionally the Church allowed a celebration or fat eating before fasting known also in many countries as Mardi Gras meaning fat Tuesday. Villagers furry dance through the streets. The word furry is thought to come from the Latin feria meaning fair but also free day or holiday and was originally a time of trading.

Along with St Ives, St Columb hosts a medieval hurling game with a silver ball where two teams, townsmen on the one hand and countrymen on the other compete to carry a silver ball of applewood to opposing goals. The town derives its motto from this game: Town and Country, Do Your Best.