Community creativity at heart of North Westmeath Saint Patricks Day Parade
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Alan Maye, Mullingar Bike Hire.Image 2 of 34
Oran Shipp having fun waving the Irish flag before the parade.Image 3 of 34
Kearney Newsagents had a stall at the parade.Image 4 of 34
At back, Lily Ennis, Laura Murphy, Brian Melia and Hannah Melia; front, Brody Murphy and Clara Melia.Image 5 of 34
Desmond Taylor and Sarah Small readying to enjoy the parade.Image 6 of 34
Clann Lir Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann performed before the parade began.Image 7 of 34
Donie Cassidy, president of the North Westmeath St Patrick’s Day Parade, and Cllr Alfie Devine.Image 8 of 34
Noah Maguire, Corey Brough, Charlene Maguire, Delilah Maguire and Jamie Maguire.Image 9 of 34
Jason, Louise, Joshua and Lucie Coffey.Image 10 of 34
Cormac, Cian and Gerard Halpin, the grand marshal team.Image 11 of 34
Cllr Alfie Devine and parade committee chairperson Octavia Tulloch raising the Irish flag before the parade.Image 12 of 34
Gerard Halpin, ploughing champion, was the grand marshal.Image 13 of 34
The Samba Mammas set the beat.Image 14 of 34
Samba MammasImage 15 of 34
Ballycomoyle GAA Club were well represented at the parade in Castlepollard on St Patrick’s Day.Image 16 of 34
Ballycomoyle GAA Club members.Image 17 of 34
St Feichin’s NS, Fore had a great turnout for the North Westmeath parade.Image 18 of 34
Inspiration Taekwon-DoImage 19 of 34
Castlepollard Hurling and Camogie Club.Image 20 of 34
Castletown Finea Coole Whitehall GFC members representing their club in Castlepollard.Image 21 of 34
Aura Hair Specialists.Image 22 of 34
Rising Stars Performing Arts members, delighted to be in the parade.Image 23 of 34
Mary Egan Beauty BoutiqueImage 24 of 34
Castlepollard Community College students flying the banner for their institution.Image 25 of 34
Clann Lir CCÈ Lough Lene Set Dancers.Image 26 of 34
Mullingar Town BandImage 27 of 34
Members of Castlepollard Hurling and Camogie Club promoting their Jungle Fundraiser.Image 28 of 34
The entry from Beauty Boutique by Mary Egan.Image 29 of 34
Castlepollard Community College students out enjoying the local parade on St Patrick’s Day.Image 30 of 34
Mullingar Town BandImage 31 of 34
Multy Stove and Fireplace FittingImage 32 of 34
Multy Stove and Fireplace Fitting going home with ET!Image 33 of 34
The Father Ted theme entry by the Mule and Donkey Society.Image 34 of 34
The viewing platform at the North Westmeath St Patrick’s Day Parade.The Clann Lír CCÉ set dancers and band set the scene ahead of the North Westmeath St Patrick’s Parade Day in Castlepollard and provided musical entertainment while the floats lined up ready to set off at 4.45pm.
The centre of the town Square had bouncy castles, games, and stalls and the town filled with visitors as parade committee president and MC Donie Cassidy stood up to the mic on the viewing stand. He thanked fellow committee members and guided the audience to look towards the raising of the Tricolour. Then the parade kicked off with a rendition of Amhrán na Bfhiann.
It was led by the sons of grand marshal Gerard Haplin, who won the All Ireland Ploughing title last year, and continued with a rhythmic beat provided by the Samba Mamas dressed in colourful costumes that fit with their upbeat drumming.
Mullingar Town Band gave an incredible performance perfectly in sync, their songs further elevated by the performers in the Colour Guard with bright flags following behind.
Octavia Turlough is chairperson of the North Westmeath St Patrick’s Day Committee, and she, as well as the rest of the team were proud of the day’s offering. “We were delighted – delighted with the attendance from the crowd, delighted with our floats. We have a committee of 15, so quite a bit goes into making an event successful and safe and enjoyable.
“We have an additional 20 on top of the committee who help on the day. We’re also really grateful for the support from local businesses who generously donate to allow it to take place.
“Companies like Mergon, who donated the barriers to us this year for the running of our event, and Westmeath County Council are among our chief supporters and we are indebted for receiving the festival grants from them every year.” The day was blessed with dry weather right until the parade wrapped up, a phenomenon that Octavia remarked is tradition for the Castlepollard Parade.
“Just as we were clearing up, the first drop of rain fell.
The people I’ve spoken to who’ve historically been involved with the parade say they never remember it actually raining during the parade. It’s rained before it, it’s rained the morning of, but never during the parade.”
The committee were impressed with the number of people in attendance. “It’s a local parade, it’s for the people of the town. It’s such a nice way to get out and have a chat with people you just don’t necessarily see from one end of the year to the next. And people come in from the other villages as well.
“They can go to the Castle Varagh Hotel for a bit of dinner before or afterwards and go into the pubs if that’s their interest.
“Obviously it was a school night, so the next day was a working day for everyone, and that makes the attendance and participation in the week all the more appreciated by the committee.”
The turnout also made all the hard work of the committee and participants worth it. “We know the work that goes into creating – some of the creative floats were just extraordinary. That takes real time and investment and that’s massive.”
Octavia made sure to highlight the efforts of the committee members. “They all do so much on their own, unthanked, they’re just working away quietly, getting things done. And even though you’re on the committee and you’re reporting back on what you’ve got done, you’ve no idea the true extent of what goes into it. “That sort of commitment is unbelievable and I don’t think there’s many places in the world where you get that.
“The local parades all over the country are running like that, and it just gives everyone a focus coming out of the winter.”
(More photos overleaf.)