Ballymahon set to celebrate Lá Fhéile Pádraig in style

Ballymahon is set to celebrate Lá Fhéile Pádraig in style this weekend as final preparations for the feast of our patron saint are coming together.

“We're well progressed with plans for the day,” said Cllr Pat O’Toole of the Ballymahon St Patrick’s Day Parade organising committee.

Businesses, schools and community groups are preparing the floats for the community event. The parade will feature a host of floats and groups marching from Creevaghbeg Road up the town’s Main Street, past the reviewing stand at Finnegan's Garage.

The local parade organisers say this year's St Patrick's Day celebrations will build on the success of last year: “It's a four o'clock start, so we would like the participants to assemble from around 3:15pm at the Creevaghbeg Road. Last year we had over 40 floats take part.”

Music is very much a part of the day: “We are lucky with the bands we have playing in the parade. We will be led off by the Athlone Pipe Band and the Manorcunningham pipe band from Donegal will join us again this year, as they have for quite a number of years. We will have Longford ONE marching in the parade. It will be very colourful.”

Last year: PICTURES | 'Irish Myths and Legends' come alive at memorable Ballymahon St Patrick's Day parade

Seven primary schools have entered into the spirit of the day to march in the parade. The Grand Marshal duties will fall to three pupils from Ballymahon Vocational School who won a category in the Young Scientists. Keira Hopkins, Grace Cassells and Lara Flood, won The ABP Farm Sustainability Award (Technology) earlier this year for their project, 'Are cow collars worth the hype?' at the BT Young Scientist Exhibition earlier this year.

“This year’s festivities will have something for everyone,” Pat says, “we are really looking forward to it. We will have the usual voluntary, community and businesses groups entering. It's a really enjoyable parade and gets celebrations off to a good start for St Patrick's Day.”

The annual festival regularly attracts over 3,500 people in Ballymahon. That additional footfall is huge for the businesses in the area.

“There is a great buzz around Ballymahon at present, and we know that the parade will reflect that. We were delighted to see Center Parcs getting full planning permission a few months ago. That work will start in the Autumn. News like that brings a vibrancy to the area.”

The theme for this year's parade is “Slainte” with the emphasis on all things healthy, so there is plenty of scope for imaginative floats. The categories are similar to previous years; the best float and overall winner will receive the perpetual cup and €500 prize.

Other categories are: most topical with a strong emphasis on the theme, best new entry, most humorous, environmental awareness, best turned-out shop window.

The winners of each category will receive €150. All the National School’s taking part will receive a hamper of cycling safety gear.

The parade will assemble at the usual point the Creevaghbeg Road well in advance of the 4pm start and the prize giving will take place that night at 8pm in Cooney’s Hotel.