French connection for Tullamore on St Patrick’s Day

The Tullamore St Patrick’s Day parade promises to have a lot of fun, colour, music, entertainment and a real French connection on Saturday next.

The mayor of a French town will attend accompanied by a town twinning delegation, and the Rose of Tralee will present prizes to the parade winners.

Offaly Hospice and Dochas are being honoured this year as their representatives, Humphrey O’Connor and Mary Cowen, will be grand marshals this year.

Entries are higher than last year as many new groups have entered, and the public are encouraged to come early as there will be lots of entertainment at the review stand from 10.45am, before the parade.

The parade takes place on Saturday, at 11.30am, from the car park of the Bridge Centre. Groups should assemble there by 11am. The route is High Street, Bridge Street, Colmcille Street, over the Kilbeggan Bridge and on to Arden Road as far as the GAA Centre. Business entrieshould assemble in Kilcruttin, opposite the railway station. (Late entries can still be accepted – call Sean O’Brien at 086 3892854. ) The theme this year is ‘Highlighting the excellent services and support provided by Offaly Hospice and Dochas’.
Entertainment at the review stand before the parade is by Tullamore Comhaltas and the Durrow Set Dancers, and at 11.15am there will be presentations to the grand marshals and the French mayor.

Playtown Tullamore will be providing free face painting from 10.30am to 11.15am at the rear of the Bridge Centre, close to the Cinema, and this group will also have people dressed in fun character outfits and will mingle with crowds to hand out treats to the younger onlookers.

The parade MC is Sean O’Brien, and groups who would like him to mention their entries should email seanobrientullamore@gmail.com – or send a note by post to 83 Whitehall, Tullamore, or handed it in at the review stand in good time.
 

Town Twinning Group

Ballycommon, Ballinagar and Geashill Town Twinning group will have a major entry with 100 students from their local schools marching.

The mayor of Jaux, Michel Jeannerot, with whom they are twinned, will also attend, accompanied by a delegation.
Monsieur Jeannerot, Jean Christophe Auge, the town twinning chairman from Jaux, and Margo Shiel, chairperson of the Ballycommon, Ballinagar and Geashill Town Twinning group, will be honoured with seats on the review stand.
 

Prizes

There will be a special prize for the Best Window Display and all town centre businesses are encouraged to decorate their shop windows. Judging will take place on Friday night. Dog owners are encouraged to enter with their dogs and to have them in their St Patrick’s Day best! The OSPCA will have a large group for this coveted prize. There will be a special prize for the Best Dressed Dog.
There will be generous prizes for the winners in the following categories: 1) Overall Winner 2) Best Youth Entry 3) Best School Entry 4) Best Band 5) Best Business Entry 6) Best Community Entry 7) Most Entertaining Entry 8) Best Dressed Dog 9) Best Sport Entry 10) Best Window Display. The judges on the day are Frank Nicholson, Joe Gallagher and Geraldine Byrne.

Committee

This year’s parade was organised by the following committee: chairman, Johnny O’Connor; vice-chairman, Martin O’Connor; secretary/PRO, Sean O’Brien; treasurer, Martin O’Connor; Facebook and website organiser, Ciara Kinnarney; face painting and parade entertainment, Frankie O’Reilly; stewarding, John Plunkett. Contact numbers: Johnny O’Connor, 087 2602487, Sean O’Brien 086 3892854.