St. Patrick’s Day Parade – New Start a Great Addition

The marching brigade from Scoil Íde, Curranes starting out on the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Castleisland. Photograph: Con Dennehy

Firies Hurling Club members out in force at Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Castleisland. Photograph: Con Dennehy

Arise Knocknagoshel: Young footballers from ‘The Mall’ enjoying Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Castleisland. Photograph: Con Dennehy

It couldn’t be /wouldn’t be held without him. Jerry Cremins hasn’t missed a parade in Castleisland since it was initiated here in 1989. Photograph: Con Dennehy

At the start of Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Castleisland were from left: Tom O’Donoghue, Ballymacelligott; with: DJ, Nora and Seán Fealey, Cordal and Greg Curran, Castleisland. Photograph: Con Dennehy

Tom Horan with one of his vintage wedding cars in Saturday’s parade. Photograph: Con Dennehy

Paddy Bradley representing The Half Barrell Bar at Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Castleisland. Photograph: Con Dennehy

Scartaglin GAA Club representatives at Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Castleisland were from left: Tom O’Donoghue, Ballymacelligott; with: DJ, Nora and Seán Fealey, Cordal and Greg Curran, Castleisland. Photograph: Con Dennehy

St. Patrick, aka, Joe Martin leading his flock out on the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Castleisland. Photograph: Con Dennehy

Currow National School with a strong representation at Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Castleisland. Photograph: Con Dennehy

Yeast from the East: The beast returns – with bread at the Castleisland St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photograph: Con Dennehy.

2018 Clonmel / Irish Derby Hero, Silent Whisper being led at the head of the Castleisland St. Patrick’s Day Parade by Mossie Leane, Scartaglin with trainer, Mossie O’Connor and members of the Hughes and Nolan families. Photograph: John Reidy

Clearly, the new starting / finishing point at the yard of the Castleisland Co-Op Mart suited the running of the Castleisland St. Patrick’s Day Parade down to the ground.

People are saying that, for the first time in the history of the parade in Castleisland, it brought the whole of the town from top to bottom into play and into participation.

A Turning Point

The top of the town, up to now, was never any more than a turning point and all the attention of the crowds tended to focus on the middle and on the bottom.

From a safety point of view, the event and its participants were able to organise themselves away from flowing traffic and its inherent dangers. That was the main drive of the Garda advice in the weeks leading up to the parade.

Committee Gives Thanks

A note from committee spokesman, Pat Hartnett said that the committee would like to thank all the stewards who helped make the 2018 parade one of the best yet.

“Thanks to them the parade went off on time without any hold up,” said Pat.

“With some new entrants taking part this parade is growing and getting even bigger. The new start and finish in the mart grounds proved hugely successful and popular and most important it was safe both for the many taking part and the public watching.

An Outstanding Success

“The committee wish to thank all the people who took part from schools floats, Civil Defence / Fire Service vintage car owners, tractors, trucks, the Gardai and everyone who helped make this special day an outstanding success. And we wish to especially thank the Castleisland Co-Op Mart Committee for their outstanding contribution to the success of the day,” said Mr. Hartnett.

You can contact The Maine Valley Post on…
Anyone in The Maine Valley Post catchment area who would like to send us news and captioned photographs for inclusion can send them to: jreidy@mainevalleypost.com  Queries about advertising and any other matters regarding The Maine Valley Post can also be sent to that address or just ring: 087 23 59 467. Please Note: A click on any of our adverts will reveal all you need to know about what our advertisers need to tell you.