This year’s St Patrick’s Day Parade in Galway, will be filmed by Kamil Krolak, the creator of the ‘Galway is also HAPPY’ video that has clocked up 140,000 views on YouTube.
The 111th anniversary of the Galway St Patrick's Day Parade takes place on Monday March 17 from 11.30am to 1pm and this year’s theme is ‘the sea and Galway’s relationship to it’.
The parade will be filmed by Mr Krolak and his team. It will focus on the city streets and the more than 4,000 parade participants and expected thousands of spectators.
Mr Krolak is best known for his Fifty People One Question - Galway video and the ‘Galway Is Also Happy’, a version of Pharrell Williams’ international hit ‘Happy’, of which the Galway Advertiser was a media partner.
Although the organisers cannot guarantee inclusion in the video, they are encouraging “everyone to come along and represent the spirit of Galway city”, by coming up with “fun and enthusiastic ideas and join us for some unforgettable memories”. Those interested in taking part should email [email protected].
Taking part in the parade this year will be The Jersey City Police Department Emerald Society, an organisation of Irish-American police officers, founded in 1968 to promote and preserve Irish heritage and culture.
Following the parade, there will be further festivities in Woodquay Square, when the St Patrick’s Festival and the Galway Dance Project host a display ranging from martial arts to tango.
The bill is tai chi display from Galway Tai’chi Academy (1pm ); capoeira from Capoeira Candeias (1.30pm ); swing dance with Galway Swing (2pm ); milonga from Galway Tango (2.30pm ); and bachata from Bachata Republic (3pm ).
Also on will be the Teddy Bears’ Picnic in association with Enable Ireland, including a family disco with DJ Will Softly and performances by the Galway Community Circus.
St Nicholas’s Collegiate Church will host a pre-parade concert with Laramie and Kelly Walsh on Saturday March 15, and a St Patrick’s Day concert with the University of Wisconsin Women’s Concert Chorale in aid of the Simon Community.
There will be performances by Galway Community Circus and the NUIG Juggling Society. Children will be able to meet the Foroige Snake who has been in the Parade for the past three years. Arts facilitators Jen Hesnan and Mauricio Figueroa will be on hand doing workshops with children to make St Patrick’s hats and snakes which the children can bring home with them. The Team has organized face painting and a storyteller for the children and there will be tea and coffee and home baked goods for Mum and Dad.
The parade team can be contacted at: [email protected] or: www.stpatricksfestivalgalway.com
