PREVIEW: St Patrick's Day in north Westmeath

• Market Square to come alive on St Patrick’s Day 
The Mullingar St Patrick’s Day event begins at 1.30pm on Market Square with the talented Michaela Hogg – an opening performance not to be missed.

Keeping the momentum going, the performers from the Fiona Gallagher School of Irish Dancing promise an energetic display of traditional Irish dance.

During an afternoon of entertainment on stage between 1.30pm and 5pm, the talented Fox family and company, will feature along with singer/songwriter and long-time member of the Foster and Allen band, Ollie Kennedy.

The organisers are delighted to also have the Celtic Blondes on stage as the afternoon moves into the evening, plus the Lir Academy Ukulele Band and the Mullingar Harpists.

Bringing the celebration of all that is great about Mullingar to an end, the popular acoustic duo 21 Under will close the Market Square musical event.

Keeping the little ones entertained, there will be face painting and balloon twisting, and don’t forget the ‘Dress as St Patrick’ competition for adults and children.

Judging is at 3pm and all prizes have been sponsored by Wallace Waste.

This event could not happen without sponsorship from Buckley’s SuperValu, Fagan Office Supplies, David O’Malley, Grange Motors, Canton Casey’s, Nooney and Dowdall, Con’s, The Chambers, The Old Stand, J Wallace, Smiddy’s, Annebrook Hotel, Dolan’s, Kerrigan’s, Gilleran’s and the Newbury Hotel.

Thank you to Westmeath Examiner, Westmeath Topic, Mullingar Town Team, Ray Dolan, Mullingar Chamber, Mullingar.ie, Mullingar News and Views, Mullingar Events Guide and, Mullingar Info for all the publicity and assistance in spreading the word that Mullingar would have an event this St Patrick’s Day.

Also, this event would not have been at all easy to co-ordinate without the many wonderful supporters - Westmeath County Council, Mullingar Arts Centre, Market House, Bill Collentine and Mullingar Tidy Towns, Civil Defence and, Mullingar Garda Síochána.

The organisers look forward to seeing you at Market Square and on Mount Street for what promises to be a great afternoon of entertainment (weather permitting).

Finally, thank you to this year’s small but, big-hearted committee: Ruth Illingworth, Susan Nooney, Olivia McCrum, Angela Maher, and Mullingar Town Team, Edel Boles and Lorraine Scally. Find us on Facebook, Mullingar St Patrick’s Day Celebrations 2018.

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh go léir!

 

• Tyrrellspass hosts seventh St Patrick’s parade 
Tyrrellspass hosts its seventh St Patrick’s Day parade this year, having started in 2011, and being revived in 2016 after a gap year in 2015.

The dedicated parade committee come together in January each year to organise the event and under chairperson Joe Daly has increased in numbers to 22 members now.

Every year they honour one of their own with the position of grand marshal, including in years past Peter Oxley, JoHanna Maher, Sylvia Mollison, Moss Fagan and Willie Gavigan.

This year’s grand marshal is Johnny Ryan, a man who has contributed much to Tyrrellspass and its environs and is a great supporter of local activities, from the GAA and drama to parish events.

This year’s parade this year will once again feature Mullingar Town Band and Rathanna Marching Band from Carlow, a collection of American vintage cars, and volunteer groups such as Tidy Towns and Scouts.

The team are hoping to have a small craft fair in the grounds of St Anne’s National School before and after the parade, and there will be entertainment and dancing at Castlegreen during the build-up to the parade.

Prizes will be awarded for the best overall Float Entry, which will be awarded the Centra Perpetual Cup. There will also be prizes for the Best Volunteer/Community Group and for Best Business float.

The last few years have seen some excellent floats entered and the standard is quite high for those intending on capturing the Perpetual Cup. Tyrrellspass Bowls Club are no doubt going to try for three years in a row having won the cup in previous years.

The committee are open to groups joining the parade, entry fees are the same as the first parade at €50 for a business entry or €25 for voluntary and community groups, which the organisers feel represents great value for money, especially as they regularly have crowds in excess of 2,000 at the event.

They also invite charity groups to take part to offer a chance to highlight their services and raise peoples awareness of their existence. They have had Blood Bikes regularly over the past few years and would will see them again this year.

The assembly points for float entries are at Killavalley, out the Kilbeggan Road towards the lay-by, and pedestrian groups should assemble in the church car park.

The parade will start from Killavalley at 2pm and there will be something for everyone on the day.

 

• Castlepollard celebrates the great outdoors 
Celebrating the great outdoors is the theme of this year’s north Westmeath St Patrick’s Day parade. The theme rests well with places like Mullaghmeen, Lough Lene, Tullynally Castle and the valley of Fore.

The parade starts at 5pm, giving rugby fans the opportunity to watch the Six Nations clash between Ireland and England and to keep an eye on the all-Ireland club championships.

Once again, the parade is aimed at the family whole, and lots of children of all ages are expected in the square.

The local clubs and businesses are ready to make this year’s parade the best that Castlepollard has ever hosted.

 

• Delvin to mark history of ploughing

The guest of honour at this year’s St Patrick’s parade in Delvin is Anna McHugh, managing director of the National Ploughing Association.

Preparations are well under way for the parade, which will be held on Sunday March 18, commencing at 3pm.

The parade will feature a short history of ploughing in Ireland with contributions from the Loy Association, Westmeath Ploughing Association, Dunderry Fair and local agri-contractor, John Fox.

This year’s is again shaping up to be another memorable event, with a number of new float entrants along with the regular and much valued local participants.

Some of the new attractions this year include the first ever visit of Clara Town Band to Delvin.

The committee are also delighted to announce that, following their appearance on Ireland’s Got Talent, the Rainbow Twirlers will perform in the parade.

The super talented Rainbow Twirlers recently performed in Blackpool at the British baton twirling championships

The group comprises more than 100 schoolgirls and young women, from the south inner city area of Dublin.

Another of the new attractions are the Grass Lads from Hollymount, County Down, who performed and demonstrated their miniature replica grass cutting and silage outfits at last year’s National Ploughing Championships.

Regular floats will include the Hospice, Friendship Club and the local pubs, who always entertain and amuse with their creative entries.

With already more than 50 floats expected, there is still time to enter yours.

This year the committee have decided to dispense with all charges for float entries and have also given would-be entrants the added incentive of cash prizes of €300 for the Best Overall Float and €200 for the Funniest Float, so get your thinking hats on.

As usual, there is a fundraising draw in operation – the draw prizes are sponsored by Michael McArdle of MC Construction, who is the main parade sponsor.

Lines are €2 each and draw cards are in local businesses, so please buy a line.

Finally the committee would like to hear from anyone who would like to help on the day as a steward – you can contact any committee member or ring 044 9664484 if you are in a position to help on one of the big days in the Delvin calendar.