Tomorrow is St Patrick's Day and throughout the county, community groups and organisations are busy putting the final preparations to a busy weekend of fun and activities. We have put together the details of some of the parades and events taking place around the county this weekend.
Achill Island
Tomorrow morning, the traditional Achill St Patrick's Pipe Band march will take place. Pipe bands from Dooagh, Keel, Pollagh, and Dookinella will all march from their respective villages to St Patrick’s Church, Pollagh, for Mass in Irish at 9am. They will all play together after Mass before marching from Pollagh to Dookinella for Mass at 12 noon. They will all play individually then collectively after the Mass, before marching home to their respective villages.
Ballina
Ballina will celebrate St Patrick's Day on Sunday, March 18, with the parade taking place at 4pm through the town. The parade will be followed by a not to be missed fireworks display at the Salmon Weir Bridge from 7pm.
Ballinrobe
The Ballinrobe St Patrick's Day parade will get under way at 1.45pm on Saturday. The parade this year will have the theme of Grá Uisce, a celebration of the area's rivers and lakes.
Belmullet
The north Mayo town's St Patrick's Day parade will get under way in the town at 1pm tomorrow.
Castlebar
The annual St Patrick's Day parade in the county town will get under way at 1.30pm from MacHale Road. The parade will follow its traditional route passing along Station Road, Spencer Street, The Mall, Ellison Street, Market Square, Newtown, Chapel Street, Newline, New Antrim, Street, Linenhall Street, and Main Street where the reviewing stand will be situated. Strict parking restirctions will be in place.
Charlestown
The town's annual St Patrick's Day parade will start at 1pm tomorrow with the parade groups meeting in the Arts Centre from 12 noon for the parade.
Claremorris
The Claremorris St Patrick's Day parade will take place tomorrow at 3pm. The parade will start from the Lakeside Estate, Ballindine Road, and progress through the town. The entertainment will get under way in the middle of the town at 1pm, with music and entertainment from Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. The theme of this year's parade is harmony, and taking part in the parade will be the 39 piece Ramelton Town Band from Donegal, who are the current All Ireland Fleadh champions.
Crossmolina
Crossmolina will celebrate its second St Patrick's Festival of Lights, which will run from today, Friday, to Sunday, March 18. The main attraction of the weekend will be the Electric Light Parade which will take place at 7.30pm in the town. Last year’s Electric Light Parade was the first of its kind in Ireland, and despite inclement weather conditions really captured the imagination of participants and spectators alike. The event is sure to attract interest once again from all over the country and beyond. The parade will consist of traditional type floats, alongside marching bands and children from the local schools – all lit up in a dazzling array of colour. The town of Crossmolina will be decorated in a selection of lights and effects for the occasion.
Kiltimagh
The east Mayo town will be holding a St Patrick's weekend of celebrations, starting with a fireworks display in the sculpture park this evening at 8.45pm. The St Patrick's Day parade will take place in the town tomorrow at 1.30pm. The festivities will wrap up on Sunday, March 18, with a variety concert taking place in the Town Hall Theatre at 6pm.
Newport
The 2018 Newport St Patrick’s Day parade will take place at 2.30pm tomorrow, and will be dedicated to the late Joe Brady. The celebration will run all day long. There will be floats, marching bands, music, and entertainment. The event is also fully packed with family fun and activities including ceol, damhsa, face-painters, and street performers. Lively pubs and restaurants will offer nice food and music at night. This year the grand marshal of the parade will be the Honorable Colleen Hastings.
Swinford
The 67th annual Swinford St Patrick's Day parade will take place at 3pm tomorrow with groups and participants assembling in the amenity park. The theme of this year's parade is "Building a better community". There will be music and entertainment provided by the Swinford Comhaltas group on the main stage prior to the parade. The awards for the best float and other prizes will be presented on Sunday, March 18, at a function in the Gateway Hotel at 8pm.
Westport
Westport will host a weekend long celebration with a lunch time performance on the streets of the town by the Oldham Scottish Pipe Band today, Friday, March 16. Things will get under way on St Patrick's Day, with a open air traditional session in The Octagon at 12.45pm. The centrepiece of the weekend will follow with the annual St Patrick's Day parade making its way through the the streets of the town from 1.30pm. The parade will celebrate the achievements of Westport Tidy Towns who have won three national Tidy Towns titles and an array of gold medals and special category awards. On Sunday, March 18, there will be a number of trad sessions and live music events and a pipers' trail throughout the town.
