The weather forecast is looking promising and it’s all systems go for Mullingar’s biggest and best St Patrick’s Day Festival yet.
The highlight of this year’s festivities include the massive ‘Phoenix’ inflatable, five marching bands including the Canadian Eglin Park Band fresh from the Dublin parade, an army display, floats, costume characters, and a myriad of circus acts from Duffy’s Circus.
Locals can look forward to on-street entertainment from 2pm on Tuesday before the parade kicks off at 4pm. A dance stage on Mount Street will feature entertainment from Energy Plus, Dance Factory, and Irish dancers. Other acts will include stilt walkers, carnival costumes, juggling, stunt bikes, clowns, and magic shows.
The parade, to be led by the army and featuring floats put together by local enthusiasts on the theme ‘Sky’s the Limit’, will weave its way through Mullingar’s streets from Green Bridge to Dublin Bridge.
Other highlights of the festival weekend will include a JP Donleavy and Mullingar Arts Guild exhibition in the Annebrook Hotel, beginning on Saturday at 8pm, and the Ceili Mor at Belvedere House and Gardens on Sunday from 2pm. Cllr Ruth Illingworth will also be conducting historic walking tours of the town on Sunday at 3pm.
Road closures will be in place from 12.30pm on Tuesday on Mount Street and Castle Street, while Dominick Street, Oliver Plunkett Street, Pearse Street, and Austin Friars Street will be closed from 2pm.
From 3.30pm and for the duration of the parade, Patrick Street, Green Bridge, Dominick Street, Oliver Plunkett Street, Pearse Street, and Austin Friars Street will all be closed to facilitate the parade. Diversions will be in place.
