Patrick’s Day Parade in Offaly celebrating 40th anniversary this year

KILCORMAC St Patrick’s Day committee launched this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade on Wednesday last in St Joseph’s Community Centre Kilcormac. This year is a very special parade as it is the 40^th anniversary of the parade and all efforts are being made to make it an extra special day for everyone.

The committee are also delighted to announce that Bord na Móna have come on board as sponsors this year, thus providing much needed sponsorship funding to help mark the milestone. Kilcormac Parade has a long-standing reputation of being a non-commercial and highly creative parade where young and old take part and it includes the whole community. This is something the committee are very proud of so they want to make this 40^th Anniversary event extra special for all involved.

Plans are well under way in the background with lots of speculation about the floats that will enter this year, the competition is expected to be high as always but this year to celebrate the anniversary there will be prize money on offer for the entries – a total of € 1,400 in prize money will be given out on the day across all categories. Along with the prize money, every child received a medal for their participation and every float received a keepsake Medallion and they have become somewhat of a collector’s item over the years. The categories include:

Overall Winner

Joe Coleman Exceptional Entry

Paddy Dooley Vintage Entry

Best Group Display Entry

Bord na Móna Sustainability Entry

Most Original Entry

Fancy Dress 1st

Fancy Dress 2nd

Speaking at the Launch, Patricia Mulligan Community Engagement Manager, Bord na Móna said, “Bord na Móna has been a proud member of the midlands community for many years and we are delighted to have come on board as the main sponsor of the Kilcormac St Patrick’s Day Parade who are now preparing for a historical 40th anniversary. Bord na Móna has a long association with the Kilcormac Parade, the company has entered many floats during this time, and it is our pleasure to support this significant 40^th Anniversary.

“This event also reflects the dedication, hard work, energy and commitment of the committee, the local schools, and the support of the people in the Kilcormac community in the preparation of a festival of street theatre, song, dance, engineering floats and depicting history.

“Congratulations to Kilcormac on reaching this milestone and Bord na Móna wish the community a successful and enjoyable St Patrick’s Day 40^th anniversary celebration.”

The parade starts at 3.30pm from the KK GAA field in Kilcormac and makes its way down the Main Street to the Grandstand where the judging takes place. No pre-registration is necessary so anyone interested in taking part in the parade should arrive at the GAA grounds from 2.30pm. They would ask school entries, fancy dress and any children’s entries to gather inside the gates at the car park for safety and all other entries to line up on the Birr Road facing Kilcormac where their details and registration will be done.

The committee would like to invite and encourage anyone interested in taking part in the parade to please come along on the day, their contribution over the years is what has made Kilcormac St Patrick’s Day Parade something not to be missed.

The committee would also like to thank the Kilcormac Development Association, local businesses, community volunteers and their main sponsor Bord na Mona for their support in both sponsorship, time and effort for this year's parade and over the past 40 years.