Poncho and all: Bláithín O’Mahony putting another brick in the wall as part of the Cormac O’Mahony float in the Castleisland St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Castleisland St. Patrick’s Day Vintage Rally organiser, Declan McGaley (left) with Derek Lawson of VIP Limo Company. Mr. Lawson provided the transport for 1989 parade founders Aeneas and Helen Leane in Friday’s parade. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Veteran parade participant, Jerry Cremins found it was a hang on to your hat kind of day at the Castleisland St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
More mortar! El Lynchio Construction getting their supplies flown in by Aero Mexico as they work on the new Great Wall on the Mexico / US border on the Lynch Builders float during the Castleisland St. Patrick’s Day Parade. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Maurice Flynn from Scartaglin waiting to get into the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Castleisland with his vintage Massey Ferguson tractor. ©Photograph: John Reidy
St. Patrick himself a.k.a. Joe Martin is a great supporter of the annual parade since its inception in 1989. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Aero Mexico over-the-wall flight tickets can be booked at Lynch’s Pharmacy from the Monday after the wall is capped – as this hardy team flagged in yesterday’s parade. ©Photograph: John Reidy
This young man was well prepared for the elements as he lined up on his quadbike at the start of the Castleisland St. Patrick’s Day Parade. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Timmy Myers (left) and Joe O’Connor carrying the banner for Kilmurry National School as the Castleisland St. Patrick’s Day Parade gets into its stride on Tralee Road on Friday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Castleisland AFC founder member, Georgie O’Callaghan studying a poster of himself and US President Donald Trump at the start of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Castleisland. ©Photograph: John Reidy
The always well turned out Jerry Cremins and his tractor at the start of the Castleisland St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Pride of place in the Castleisland St. Patrick’s Day Parade went to event founders, Aeneas and Helen Leane pictured here in their chauffeur driven vintage Beauford. ©Photograph: John Reidy
The Lip Synch Battle team from Garvey’s SuperValu showcased their presentation at Friday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. And the fiddler is going to fiddle holding classes on Monday night. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Vincent Dowling, Tralee (left) with Brendan, Mathea and Joey McCormack, Camp at the start of the vintage rally in the Castleisland St. Patrick’s Day Parade. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Castleisland AFC supremo, Georgie O’Callaghan with his flag bearer, Shane Coffey and a squad at the starting point of the Castleisland St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
All kinds of areas of shelter were occupied during the Castleisland St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Smiling through the rain on part of the Kilmurry National School float in the Castleisland St. Patrick’s Day Parade. ©Photograph: John Reidy
US President, Donald Trump was celebrated and lampooned the length and breadth of the Island of Saints and Scholars during yesterday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Here, he makes a guest appearance on Cormac O’Mahony’s float. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Anthony McAuliffe travelled with his horse and side-car from Knocknagoshel for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Castleisland – where he gave St. Patrick / Paddy Finucane a lift. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Dane Hewitt (left) and Ronnie Mallon lining up as part of the Castleisland AFC participation at the start of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Championing the Second Chance Charity Shop and the Castleisland and District branch of Kerry Mental Health Association were: Kate and Aaron Shanahan, Bernie Hogan, Mary McAuliffe, Kathleen Kennedy and Helen Prendiville. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Flying their Castleisland AFC Lip-Synch Flag at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Castleisland were: Bríd Devane (left) with Patrick O’Rourke and Sneih Brennan, ©Photograph: John Reidy
Pupils from Muire Gan Smál Oileán Chiarraí pictured with the Kerry Credit Union U-11 Schools’ Table Quiz Cup in the Castleisland St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday afternoon. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Watching the Castleisland St. Patrick’s Day Parade from the door of Kearney’s Bar were: Den Joe O’Connell, Bernard Nolan, Bridget Reidy, Debra O’Connell, Dan and Catheriona Browne. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Castleisland Active Retirement group members, Beth Carty (left) and Pauline Cronin all set to give a hand with ‘The Wall’ in the Castleisland St. Patrick’s Day Parade. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Bartlett 24 Hour Recovery had one of its trucks on show in the Castleisland St. Patrick’s Day Parade. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Spark and Jimmy: Jimmy Brosnan from Cordal with his terrier, Spark plugging away with his miniature carraige in the Castleisland St. Patrick’s Day Parade. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Sheltering from the elements at the Castleisland St. Patrick’s Day Parade yesterday were: Martin O’Donnell (left) with Sandra, Catherine and Reidín Horan with Mike, Dylan and Adam Cahill. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Dan Griffin (left) and Dan O’Connell carrying the Muire Gan Smál Oileán Chiarraí banner in the Castleisland St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday afternoon. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Smiling through the rain: Peter O’Connor is well wrapped up as he takes part in the motorbike rally in yesterday’s Castleisland parade. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Lanigan’s Ball on the John Lynch float in the Castleisland St. Patrick’s Day Parade. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Standing in from the wind at Upper Main Street were Sonny Brosnan (left) and Seánie Broderick as they watched the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Castleisland. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Timothy Mitchell (left) and Daragh Curtin enjoying the atmosphere on St. Patrick’s Day in Castleisland. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Norma Reidy and friends in the Scartaglen Childcare Centre pen in the Castleisland St. Patrick’s Day Parade. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Timmy Murphy following up with Lanigan’s Other Ball in yesterday’s Castleisland St. Patrick’s Day Parade. ©Photograph: John Reidy
There was fake hair, fake tan, fake mustachios but the wind and the driving rain were real. So too was the colour and excitement and the sense of participation and community spirit in spite of everything thrown at it by the elements.
A huge portion of the spectators at yesterday’s Castleisland St. Patrick’s Day Parade stayed in their cars along Main Street and hoped for the best in terms of viewing opportunities.
As the parade left Tralee Road and wended its way onto Main Street there was a light but enveloping mist on a bitingly cold, south-westerly wind.
A Huge Cavalcade
By the time the huge cavalcade made its way back down town from the old library, there was rain-water of a good inch in depth flowing down the channels.
The thirsty caved in into their own particular temptations earlier than normal. Through cleared patches in the condensation on the pub windows, they kept an eye on the parade and the other on the unfolding story of Cheltenham 2017.
The turn-out was phenomenal and the levels of participation by children was up on other years – in spite of the weather.
Knocknagoshel man, Anthony McAuliffe set out from The Mall with his horse and side-car at around 10:45am and arrived at Tralee Road just on time for the off at 1pm here.
He linked up with Paddy ‘St. Patrick’ Finucane and they did the obligatory lap of the town.
A Splendid Job
Declan McGaley did a splendid job in choosing a vintage, chauffeur driven vehicle for Aeneas and Helen Leane.
The Leanes were being honoured by the parade committee for their work on the early years of the event from its founding in 1989.
The vehicle, a beautiful silver Beauford belonging to Derek Lawson of the Ballylongford based VIP Limo Company Ltd., was straight out of Ms. Marple and it had the facility to roll back the roof – if only….
Aeneas and Helen were invited onto the stage where Helen thanked the organisers and sang Castleisland Town in the rain as the strains on the town covered speaker system were blowing in the wind.
Delighted to be Asked
I was talking to Helen on this Saturday morning and she asked me to be sure to thank the committee and its chairman, Charlie Farrelly for the work they put into the day and to Declan McGaley for his part in their involvement in the event.
“We are delighted to have been asked to take part and it was a great honour for us. It was nice to be reminded and remembered for the part we and others played in starting up the parade all those years ago,” said Helen.
US President, Donald Trump’s wall looks like it’s going to be a single, four inch block on edge and the El Lyncho Construction Company would appear to have the job in hand.
However, the equally productive Cormac O’Mahony family float would suggest that it will be built of brick – on the flat.
Another Brick in the Wall
Behind the speechifying Mr. Trump’s back Bláithín O’Mahony was putting another brick in the wall as the cavalcade of fun and merriment made its way up and down through Main Street.
John Lynch’s float had a simple kind of ‘Exhibit A’ – a colourful sphere with the caption, Lanigan’s Ball.
There was a sting in the tail, however, as Timmy Murphy followed up with a wheelbarrow and a similarly simple exhibit with the title, ‘Lanigan’s Other Ball.’
While disappointed by the disobliging nature of the weather, Charlie Farrelly was upbeat on the participation levels and the spirit of the occasion in spite of all.
A Fair Spin-Off
“I’m delighted for the town itself and that the pubs and restaurants got a fair spin-off from the day. “They supported us financially with the running of the event and it’s only right that they get the benefits that a day like this brings.
“We’d like to applaud and thank the schools, the clubs and organisations, the many children and the people who participated in the parade itself and to the many who came to town for the day – it’s a shame about the weather but it didn’t damped spirits here,” said Charlie.
Look out for more photographs here later today.
All together now:
Hail, glorious St. Patrick, dear saint of our isle,
On us thy poor children bestow a sweet smile;
And now thou art high in the mansions above,
On Erin’s green valleys look down in thy love.
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