The elected members of Ballina Town Council were full of praise this week for all those involved in taking part in and organising the St Patrick’s Day parade last weekend. The council gave €5,000 funding for the parade this year and all agreed it was money well spent.
The parade was moved from St Patrick’s Day to Sunday this year and Cllr Johnny O’Malley – who is also a member of the parade committee – told the meeting he thought it worked out well. “We had discussed at length whether to move the parade or keep it on the Saturday. You will never please everyone with a decision like this, but following discussions with the chamber of commerce and given the economic climate being what it is, we decided to move it to the Sunday to give the traders in the town the Saturday free to themselves. It seems to have worked out very well and I would think we had the biggest crowd we’ve had for a number of years.”
Cllr Willie Nolan stated: “It was a great event and well done to all, I’d like to commend the committee also for the fact it honoured Hollister in this year’s parade. They are one of the biggest employers in the town and it was great that their contribution to the town was recognised by the organisers.”
Cllr Gerry Ginty commended the committee and said: “Some people will always complain about it being moved, but if those who complained got up and got involved in something like this, it would be much better for the town than just knocking the people who put in the work.”
