Laois St Patrick's Day parade organiser promising 'secret star'

A Laois town is promised an exciting St Patrick's Day festival in 2025, including a concert, circus and street market not to mention a music filled parade.

Musicians Fieldsy, Seamus Moore, James McGrath, The Rattling Kind and a "secret star" are all promised for the 2025 Boglands Festival in Mountmellick. 

Organiser Jason McInerney has given an enthusiastic update, while inviting parade participants and volunteers to sign up.

"We have secured St Joseph's Accordion Band to lead our parade once more for the first time in years, we are delighted to have them back in Mountmellick.

"We have secured a new concert venue and added a second stage to our event for the first time ever and confirmed some huge Irish artists and guest performers including Fieldsy, Seamus Moore, James McGrath, the Rattling Kind with two more headliners to be announced and many more guests.

"We have booked and secured full town square circus show and parade performers. We have booked children's attractions galore and put in place a full safety plan in relation to each.

"We have fully booked market space of 25 stalls for both days with local priority. We have secured catering services. We have joined forces with many local businesses to bring a huge variety of options for all attending.

"We have organised four parade performance pieces including two dance sets one modern and one traditional Irish, one musical song set, and one theatre set all taking place during our St Patricks Day parade. 

"We are delighted to announce that we have chosen our leading group which will be our local GAA county champions.

"We have completely gutted and prepared our concert venue which will undergo two months more preparation for our event including facilities installation and full stage build and stretch tent, outdoor bar and dining area. 

"We have secured our stage and MC for the town Square as always huge thanks to Ger Hyland. We have booked various mascots face painters, pet farm, gaming vans, bouncing castles to ensure every age has something available. 

"We have secured a new location for our funfair thanks to John Horan coach's.  We have produced a full schedule of events for both days which will be updated and released in the first week of March. 

"We have narrowed our guest of honour list down to three which will be chosen by you in the coming weeks. We have also chosen five local groups who we will assist with their parade float," the organiser says.

Mr McInerney adds that a family day event on March 16 will include a collection for The Irish Cancer Society a cause close to all our hearts.

On funding to pay for the festival, he says that half of it has been raised already.

"Between local business sponsorship and local authority funding we estimate that will cover approximately 50% of overall costs therefore we are hoping to raise the other 50% with our collections and wristbands and ticket sales.

"It's the one day of the year we all come together and celebrate our shared culture, our history and who we are as a community, showcasing our small town with the big heart to the world, but without you we cannot make it happen we are literally a handful of volunteers. We have a mountain to climb still and we need your support more than ever.

"We need volunteers and your support over the next few months to make this a reality. Come on Mountmellick let's do this together and show them our town is still alive and kicking," he says.

Anyone interested in volunteering or further information is asked to call Jason 0852135119, or Martina 0852093253 or email [email protected] 

The group will hold a fundraising collection at SuperValu Mountmellick in the second week of February.