Flying high for St Patrick's in Kinnegad
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The Skye’s The Limit Dance and Singing Academy put on great performances in Kinnegad. Thomas GibbonsImage 2 of 30
Members of Westmeath Comhaltas playing before the parade started. Thomas GibbonsImage 3 of 30
Sheila and Geraldine Giles on Sunday. Thomas GibbonsImage 4 of 30
Annie Bracken and Aoife Fleming from Kinnegad. Thomas GibbonsImage 5 of 30
Nicole and Christine Boyle at the parade. Thomas GibbonsImage 6 of 30
PJ Cannon and Joe O’Keeffe were stewards on Sunday. Thomas GibbonsImage 7 of 30
Eilbhe Byrne and Elena Holden on Sunday afternoon. RIGHT: 73 year old Captain Peter Cahal did a fly past during the parade. Thomas GibbonsImage 8 of 30
The UN veterans led the parade in Kinnegad on Sunday afternoon. Thomas GibbonsImage 9 of 30
Peter Dixon was the grand marshal for the Kinnegad parade. Thomas GibbonsImage 10 of 30
The Kinnegad Youth Club provided a lively presence in the Kinnegad parade. Thomas GibbonsImage 11 of 30
Members of the Kinnegad Women’s Shed. Thomas GibbonsImage 12 of 30
Rose Carey from the Celtic Blondes. Thomas GibbonsImage 13 of 30
The Cheeky Monkeys Preschool at the St Patrick’s parade in Kinnegad on Sunday. Thomas GibbonsImage 14 of 30
St Patrick in Kinnegad on Sunday afternoon. Thomas GibbonsImage 15 of 30
Courtney Callaghan was the MC for the parade. Thomas GibbonsImage 16 of 30
73 year old Captain Peter Cahal did a fly past during the parade. Thomas GibbonsImage 17 of 30
The staff from Gildea’s Pharmacy in Kinnegad for the St Patrick’s parade. Thomas GibbonsImage 18 of 30
The Kinnegad Coralstown Community Games. Thomas GibbonsImage 19 of 30
The students from St Finian’s NS braved the rain on Sunday. Thomas GibbonsImage 20 of 30
The Coralstown/Kinnegad GAA Club were out in force for the Kinnegad parade. Thomas GibbonsImage 21 of 30
Venera, Christine and Ellie Jakaydanovych from Kinnegad. Thomas GibbonsImage 22 of 30
Brendan Leech brought a 120-year-old barrow to the parade. Thomas GibbonsImage 23 of 30
Some of the vintage cars at the Kinnegad parade. Thomas GibbonsImage 24 of 30
The Sancta Maria Nursing Home staff in the Kinnegad parade. Thomas GibbonsImage 25 of 30
Jennifer and Peter Moore at the parade in Kinnegad. Thomas GibbonsImage 26 of 30
Anthony and Ruby Kelly on Sunday afternoon. Thomas GibbonsImage 27 of 30
Emma and Pamela Murphy with Pugba the pug. Thomas GibbonsImage 28 of 30
Karen Donnegan and Billy Donnegan Conlon from Kinnegad Youth Club. Thomas GibbonsImage 29 of 30
Cllr Denis Leonard with Martin Plunkett after Sunday’s parade. Thomas GibbonsImage 30 of 30
Aisling and Ruairí O’Keeffe Craig from Mullingar and Lauren Craig and Eva Lee from Clonard enjoying the first St Patrick’s Day parade in Kinnegad. Lauren and Eva are part of The Skye’s the Limit dance group in Kinnegad.The first ever Kinnegad St Patrick’s Day Parade was held on Sunday afternoon, March 15, when spectators lined the main street as businesses, clubs and other organisations paraded past for an hour. The grand marshal was Peter Dixon, a man who has served the town so well for so long.
“Peter is in the middle of everything that goes on in Kinnegad, out every single day with a smile on his face; he represents true community spirit and we wanted him to be the proud grand marshal of the first ever St Patrick’s Day Parade,” Cllr Denis Leonard said.
A highlight of the parade was a spectacular fly-over by a twin engine aircraft piloted by 73-year-old Captain Peter Cahal, who, with more than 85,000 flying hours, is possibly the most experienced pilot in the country. The air display was sponsored by Dave Sartori, chief engineer and head of maintenance at the national flight centre pilot academy.
Sunshine beamed down at the beginning and end of the parade, but a heavy shower, accompanied by a bitter breeze, marred the middle section. The hardy participants and spectators defied the elements though, and many made hasty retreats to nearby hostelries to warm up after the parade.
In his address, Cllr Leonard applauded Margaret Flynn, chairperson of the parade committee, who, along with Trevor Byrne, Kinnegad Town Team and Clonard Vintage Club, organised the event.
He thanked Joe Connaire and Westmeath Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann for providing the pre-parade entertainment, and Stephen Lynam, who provided the sound system and, along with others, entertained the crowds after the parade.
There was a huge array of vintage vehicles in the parade from the Clonard and Mullingar Vintage Clubs, from top of the range motors to a 100-year-old wheelbarrow. All the vintage vehicles were on display at the GAA grounds after the parade.
Compère Courtney Callaghan from Midland 103 radio gave a running commentary on each of the entrants as they passed the viewing stand. Some of the groups taking part provided gymnastic and dance displays, and many of the participants dished out goodies to the crowd.