Reports from around the country.
GALWAY
GALWAY WENT back to basics and sent out its famous tribes to celebrate St Patrick's Day. Its new communities joined in the festivities and the warm sunshine also played a huge part in one of the most enjoyable parades for some time with thousands cheering on the participants.
The parade was led by Tom Feeney (90), who led the St Patrick's Brass Band at the parade for almost half a century. It celebrates its 200th anniversary this year. Pipers and dancers from Galway's French twin city Lorient added a Breton touch to the celebrations.
There was further reason in Portumna for celebrations as the town celebrated its second All-Ireland club hurling title win in three years when they defeated Birr in the final at Croke Park.
The good weather ensured other parades around the county enjoyed bumper crowds. However, it was a day of deep sadness for one community with celebrations planned for Killererin in north Galway cancelled following the tragic death of Billy Fahy. The 76-year-old farmer died after falling into a slurry tank at the weekend.
JOHN FALLON
WATERFORD
ST PATRICK removed the "stone from the waters" around Waterford yesterday for what was the best turnout amidst the finest weather experienced at a St Patrick's Day parade in the city for some years. Grand Marshal of the parade, this year themed Play Your Part, was local playwright and Aosdána member Jim Nolan. The parade, a "multicultural, family-centred event", included entries from the Polish community, Spraoi street theatre and the Harley Davison Owners' Group, a convoy of about 50 Harleys from the Celtic Thunder Chapter, which was followed by more that 20 Minis from the Mini Club of Ireland. Breakdancers, hurlers, Vikings, pipers, bumble bees, sea creatures, martial artists and Irish dancers entertained the masses.
CIARAN MURPHY
DERRY
THOUSANDS OF people lined the streets of Derry yesterday for the city's biggest St Patrick's Day parade for many years. The city council-organised parade, which had the theme Cultural Myths and Legends, was spearheaded by Derry's own boxing legend, IBA middleweight world champion John Duddy.
"It's great to be home for the parade and to be asked to lead the parade is a great honour for me. The weather has been fantastic and it's terrific to see so many families enjoying themselves," said John. Prior to the parade there was face painting and story telling in the Tower Museum followed by traditional singing and dancing in Guildhall Square which was a designated alcohol-free zone.
GEORGE JACKSON
KILLARNEY
THE FREEZING white slopes of the Antarctic continent captured the imagination of Killarney yesterday during one of the finest and busiest St Patrick's Day parades in years where Pat Falvey, leader of Ireland's expedition to the South Pole, was guest of honour. He was taken by jaunting car to the viewing stand to sit near a tartan-capped Jackie Healy-Rae TD. "Pat Falvey surely won't feel any cold," quipped one viewer as the mountaineer vaulted the steps without a stumble clad in cold-weather gear. Rival GAA clubs Crokes and Legion both had Antarctic floats, while topping them all was the effort of the Malton Hotel, where a green-and-gold-clad Donal Brendan O'Connor sat on top of a steep white peak flanked by pretend penguins, who included five Polish and one South African workers from the hotel.
In Tralee young scientist of the year Emer Jones (13) led the large parade where a now annual multicultural gathering with the flags of more than 60 countries, representing the new Ireland, took place.
ANNE LUCEY
COOLGREANY
THERE WAS a huge turnout in the tiny village of Coolgreany, six miles from Arklow, on Sunday as it staged its first ever St Patrick's parade. Grand marshal was popular local resident Maureen Kelly, who said that "Coolgreany has not seen as big a crowd since the bicentenary celebrations of the 1798 uprising 10 years ago".
TOM SHIEL
CLARE ISLAND
CLARE ISLAND, Co Mayo, the only offshore island in Ireland with a St Patrick's Day parade, celebrated in style. The grand marshal was none other than "St Patrick" himself, played by Michael McAleer. The good saint's chariot was a cart drawn by a mule and the charioteer was Paddy Flynn. who was presented with a special award by the organisers for his dedication to the parade since it was inaugurated 13 years ago. Back on the Mayo mainland, the grand marshal of the Westport parade was the mayor of Zalec, in Slovenia, Lojze Posedel.
TOM SHIEL
DOWNPATRICK
NOWHERE ELSE are the celebrations of St Patrick's Day more significant than in Downpatrick, Co Down, where the saint was reputedly buried in 461. After a wreath was laid on the huge granite stone of the saint's grave at Down Cathedral, the town burst into life. Despite the bitter cold, crowds lined the streets to watch the carnival as it snaked its way through the town centre. Outside town almost 500 walkers, including a bus carrying French visitors, set out from Raholp on one of the biggest and most traditional events on the St Patrick's Day festival - the St Patrick's Day walk. Now in its 20th year, it attracts hundreds of ramblers from all over Ireland and beyond. "The walk is a great opportunity to explore the peninsula where the great missionary work of the saint began," said walks co-ordinator Hilary McLaughlin. "Early on participants can take a detour up to the top of Slieve Patrick to the statue for a bird's-eye view over south Down and we also pass the point on private land where it is said St Patrick came ashore in AD432."
Police estimate some 35,000 turned out to enjoy the celebrations.