Thurles in Tipperary stole a march on the rest of the country by holding its St Patrick's Day parade yesterday. Dozens more parades are being organised for Wednesday, with many celebrating themes such as sport, pageantry and the environment.
Meanwhile, thousands of people lined the streets of Limerick yesterday for the 34th International Marching Band Competition. It was part of the St Patrick's Spring Fest 2004, which continues until March 21st. The overall winner of the International Band Competition was the John F Kennedy High School Band from Pennsylvania, while St Mary's Fife and Drum Band from Limerick was best home adult fife and drum band.
Limerick's St Patrick's Day parade will celebrate the city's associations with sport. Many sports groups will take part, including the Old Crescent and Shannon rugby clubs. The celebrations will again coincide with the national hunt races at Limerick Racecourse which begin at 2.40 p.m.
In Cork, Dustin the Turkey, the RTÉ star, will be the parade's grand marshal this year with the help of Socky, the sock monster from Den TV. The parade begins at 1 p.m. from South Mall and follows the traditional route through the city.
Some 50 groups will take part in the Galway parade which starts at the city fire station at 12.30 p.m. A new route will bring the participating groups through Shop Street, ending up in Woodquay. The parade will mark the 500-year anniversary of the Battle of Knockdoe with a full-scale battle re-enactment at Woodquay.
Other highlights will include the return of Macnas, while visiting bands will include the Wheatfield Prison Pipe Band.
Derry has planned a family outdoor event at Guildhall Square with folk music, Irish dancing and street entertainment.
The Sligo parade will have a carnival atmosphere, with street entertainers, face painters and masked impersonators. St Patrick will lead the parade, which starts at noon from the Weigh Bridge, Mail Coach Road. As usual, there will be a strong Northern Ireland flavour, with nine bands travelling from Belfast to take part.
In Meath, the Trim parade will have an environmental theme, with " Reduce, Reuse and Recycle" as its motto. Mr Gerry Smyth, the 97-year-old athlete who was victorious in last year's European and World Senior Games, will display his medals as he travels in an open-top vintage car. For younger spectators, characters such as Bear in the Big Blue House, Dennis the Menace and a 12-foot inflatable clown will provide entertainment.
