Gerry and Ken to lead the way in Mullingar town's parade

Gerry Duffy and Ken Whitelaw will have to slow down for their latest role as the Grand Marshalls of this year's St Patrick's Day Parade. The two Mullingar athletes, who last summer completed 32 marathons in 32 counties in 32 days, will lead out the town's 2011 Parade, which is going to be the biggest and brightest yet. Another two local men who are bound to get a great reception when they take their places at the review stand are Deputies Willie Penrose and Robert Troy, who are joining members of Westmeath County Council, Mullingar Town Council, army, gardai and key sponsors of the parade.Music and colour and spectacle will flow throughout this year's parade with nine marching bands, dancers, singers, stilt walkers, clowns and in spite of St Patrick's best efforts to get rid of them, snakes and their charmers.Every single street in Mullingar town centre will have something to see and to do, with great entertainment for children and adults. The Snake Charmer will be just outside the Greville Arms hotel, giving the children a chance to see why they should be grateful that St Patrick rid Ireland of such fierce creatures.Anyone who like to get themselves in a "twist" might like to see how the professionals do it with a contortionist performing outside the ACC Bank on Dominick Street. The Dance factory will be wowing the crowds with their routines on Mount Street.Dominick Street will be buzzing all through the day with Tug of War, Duffy's Circus and street entertainers. Castle Street is where all the fun starts on the day with crazy inflatables for all the children to get them bouncing with excitement.Of course the big event is the Parade itself which this year will have incredible floats from every aspect of the community including, schools, voluntary organisations, local businesses and church groups.Pride of the town, the 4FAR and 54 Regt Reserve will be leading the parade with a colour party from Columb Barracks Mullingar. Our local barracks will also put on a show of soldiers and equipment, displaying to the parade the modern Irish Army. Some of the soldiers taking part in this year's parade will be deploying to the Lebanon in May.The troops deploying, including parade organiser Noel O'Callaghan RSM will be wearing blue beret when participating in the parade. The army are also parading with Mowag armour, light armour LTAV vehicles, and a riot control group, snipers and a fitness stand.Joining the Colour Party will be the Delvin Scouts, who will carry the Mullingar flag with an honour guard escort, for the first time in the parade.The Parade is starting at the Horizon Ballroom at 4pm and will finish at Dublin Bridge. Science and Innovation was chosen as this year's St Patrick's Day Parade theme. And this year there is a special prize for community groups who can make their float appear to actually float along in the parade.Fans of big bands will be delighted to know that the Mullingar Town Band will this year be joined by the Clondalkin Brass Band, the Tallaght Band, the ONE Band from the Curragh, the Dr Wright Memorial Band, the Clara Band, The Ravens Band from Athlone and the Quinn Memorial Band.Last year, the parade attracted 33,000 people into Mullingar for St Patrick's Day and this year the organisers are expecting even more parade fans to make their way to the town to make the parade the biggest St Patrick's day celebration outside of Dublin.The beat on the streetFor the first time a big part of the St Patrick's Day celebrations will be the incredible music stages throughout the town which will have bands playing throughout the day and into the early evening. The Main Stage is on Dominick Street and the day's entertainment will kick off at just after 2pm with local favourites the Whiskey River Band followed by trad rock stars Tavella. At 7.30, after the parade, the talented Seven Days will take to the stage, followed by Cunla at 6.30pm and "Egg and Spoons" at 7.15.The Pearse Street stage will have entertainment up until 3.30 including Ronan Leonard, Brendan Keeley and "Jack and Amy". Irish dancing phenomenon "Celtic Blondes" will be giving a display of modern and traditional Irish Dancing followed by the Gospel Singers at 3pm. The rock stage will be on Austin Friar Street a with "The Props", Resurgence, "We Go Go" and "Icon on Fire"The Street Closures for the ParadeThe Assembly point for the St Patrick's Day Parade will be the Old Horizon site at Grange on Patrick Street. Organisers would like the walking groups to assemble from 3pm and the vehicle groups from 2pm.The junction at Green bridge will be closed to traffic at the railway station and Green Road from 3.30pm and re-open at 6.30pm.Dominick Street, from Cappola's Takeaway to Rochforts, will close at 1.30pm and reopen at 3.30pm and will close again at 6.30pm and reopen at 8pm. The 6.30pm Dominick Street closure will see the road close from Lingi's to Old Fox's Fruit and Vegetable shop, reopening at 8pm.Dominick Place at Mojo's Lane will close at 1.30pm and reopen at 6.30pm and in this area will be the Order of Malta Ambulance Station.Mary Street at the ACC Bank will close at 1.30pm and reopen at 6.30pm. Martins Lane will be closed to traffic at 1.30pm and reopen at 6.30pmMount Street will be closing at 1.30pm at Sundays Well Road to the new council car park and reopen at 6.30pm. Castle Street will be closed at Stensons Locksmiths to Church at 1.30pm and reopen at 6.30pm. Church Avenue will be closed at 1.30pm and reopen at 6.30pm.Spout Well Lane will be closed at 1.30pm and reopen at 6.30pm and there will be an Order of Malta Ambulance Station here.Austin Friar Street, from Texas to Irish Nationwide will be closed at 3.30pm to reopen at 6pm.McCurtain Street, from Hickeys Fireplaces to the Bridge Bar will be closed at 3.30pm to reopen at 6.30pm. At Millmount Road the road will be closed to traffic at the traffic lights at 3.30pm to reopen at 6.30pm. Dublin Bridge will be Closed at the Maxol Garage at 3.30pm and reopen to traffic at 6.30pm.North Westmeath ParadeThe town Castlepollard will be transformed into a colourful circus for St Patrick's day. The Square will have a funfair, a magic show and children's entertainment with live music and dancing from 3pm.This year's theme is "Legends" and once again the local community has surpassed itself with the quality and quantity of entries from little children, through to the schools, colleges and business community as well as all the local sporting clubs.The parade is delighted once more to be lead off by the award winning Mullingar Town Band and the Celtic Crusaders.As part of the "Myths and Legends" parade theme, a selection of graphic panels from The Wonder of Ireland exhibition at Belvedere House will be on the display in shop windows around the square leading up to and during the parade celebrating Ireland's ancient past. The local businesses will also once again be entertaining local people with their imaginative shop window displays.The pre-parade entertainment will be kicking off at 3pm with live music and dancing and all the fun of the fair.Another great local event which needs the community's support is the Lough Lene Gael's Christmas Day Swim in aid of Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children.