RTÉ cameras set for newest St Patrick's Day Parade in Laois if not Ireland
TV coverage on March 17 at The Heath for GAA club organised event
RTÉ's cameras will be out early on St Patrick's Day in Laois covering the newest parade in the county and perhaps Ireland.
The station will focus on the proud community in Portlaoise Parish to record and later broadcast the historic momentous event which is due to start about 9am on Sunday, March 17.
The community has a big connection with the RTÉ newsroom as Justin Treacy, of the famous Treacy's bar and restaurant, is a native of The Heath.
The parade, which will be the only Laois parade featured by RTÉ this year, was the brainchild of local woman Samantha Whelan, who has assembled a hard-working group of volunteers to bring the event to life.
“We have so much to be proud of in our area. The Heath is a thriving community, and it is time we show what we have in our area. If we didn’t get started this year then another twelve months would pass without it, so this year I decided to do something,” Samantha told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.
The St Patrick’s Day parade is the latest initiative to come from The Heath GAA club’s Health and Wellbeing committee, which has been very active in recent months with new initiatives to foster community spirit.
"To participate, you will need to create or design your own banners, floats and signs, and to really stand out, you could maybe add costumes and props to enhance the overall parade experience. This is for the whole community to come out and join in and if you are not taking part, we are asking people to stand along the road to welcome the parade on its way down to the church,” say organisers.
The plan for the event is to begin at 8.45am at the GAA club grounds, before proceeding to the church for 9.30am mass. Refreshments will be served afterward in The Heath parish hall.
If you are interested in entering a float or finding out more information, you can do so by phoning Samantha on 086-3667583 or email [email protected].
Highlights from The Heath will feature in the round-up around the country on the Six One RTÉ news on Sunday, March 17.