A round-up of events nationwide
GALWAY
“DON’T GIVE up Japan, we are with you,” read the banner, and members of Galway’s Japanese community received a standing ovation from city officials at the St Patrick’s Day parade. The small group got a warm response as they collected donations along the parade route.
“A World of Wonder” was the theme, and a plethora of nationalities were well represented in the event which attracted several thousand spectators.
Highlights included the Galway Community Circus jugglers and gymnasts and the Blue Teapot Theatre Company’s From the East to the West. The theatre company for people with learning disabilities told the tale of a historic visit to the West by two Eastern gods in the company of a fiery dragon.
The dragon was a gift for St Patrick to help him chase snakes and hissing snake lookalikes from the island.
For the third year in a row, Galway’s parade was directed by Debbie Wright and Craig Flaherty. In a new departure, five groups, including Breton musicians from Lorient, performed a showcase after the parade in Shop Street.
Grand marshal of the city parade was famed boxing trainer and barber Michael “Chick” Gillen. Dry, if not quite warm, spots of sunshine brought out the inner leprechauns, many determined to mark the day with non-stop consumption of cheap alcohol.
Up to 100 gardaí were rostered for duty in the city until early this morning to ensure bylaws on drinking in open areas are respected.
Parades also took place in towns and villages throughout the county, including An Spidéal, Ballinasloe, Gort, Dunmore and Glenamaddy.
Galway City Council says books of condolences for victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami can be signed during opening hours at City Hall, College Road; the Town Hall Theatre, Courthouse Square; Galway City Library, St Augustine Street; Ballybane Library; and Westside Library.
LORNA SIGGINS
KERRY
Parades in Kerry showcased the county’s wealth of music, with the ancient Dingle fife and drum band kicking off what they said was the country’s earliest parade, at 6am.
Voluntary groups took part in Tralee where the intercultural event celebrated more than 50 nationalities and their musical traditions.
In Killarney, Carrickfergus to O Mio Babbino Caro – traditional airs followed by operatic arias by local soprano Mary Culloty O’Sullivan – warmed thousands of locals and tourists lining the streets as grand marshal and broadcaster Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh was brought by jaunting car to the viewing stand.
The 60 groups in the Killarney parade were led by a colour party of Garda outriders and the Killarney FCA while the Girl Guides, the American Legion and several brass and traditional céilí bands brought up the body of the parade.
A teenage battle of the bands ended festivities there.
A giant Chinese dragon more than 40ft long led the way in Causeway while other Kerry villages from Ballyduff to Sneem also celebrated. In Castleisland, traditional music flowed for the afternoon.
ANNE LUCEY
TIPPERARY
There was a large turnout at parades throughout Tipperary, including Littleton and Templemore.
The Thurles parade will not be held until next Sunday when the mayor of its twin town,
Bollington, in England, and members of its town council will be special guests.
TOM RYAN
CORK
Ballydehob hosted its inaugural St Patrick’s Day parade yesterday, led by 102-year-old local woman Nell Levis as grand marshal.
More than 30 floats made their way through the town and the community council association has applied to the Guinness Book of Records to enter Nell as the world’s oldest grand marshal of a St Patrick’s Day parade.
Hollywood star Maureen O’Hara led the parade through Bantry, while piper Dermot Millner appeared as guest of honour at celebrations in Castletownbere.
The Clonakilty Brass Band entertained crowds gathered at Ashe Street. County footballers Fintan Gould and Seán Kiely led the Woodland String Band through Macroom.
LOUISE ROSEINGRAVE
SLIGO
Organisers of the shortest St Patrick’s Day parade (200m) knew where to look for a judge.
The Aughanagh parish parade in Ballinafad, Co Sligo, got Paddy Cunningham to do the honours. Paddy was runner-up in The Biggest Loser on ITV and TV3 when he lost 6st 8lbs weight in five months.The parade was a fundraiser for Autism North West and a local community sports facility.
PADDY CLANCY
MONAGHAN
Vintage farm machinery was the highlight of the annual parade in Carrickmacross in which several bands took part.
In Monaghan town, the county's historic links with Chile were highlighted, with Chilean ambassador Leonel Searle and his wife Luz Maria invited as special guests. The event attracted cross-Border marching bands from Co Fermanagh, and also from Co Monaghan. PATSY McARDLE