Preparations underway for this year's Tullamore St Patrick's Day parade

Preparations are underway for this year's St Patrick's Day Parade in Tullamore, as the organising committee seeks to build on the massive success of the town's parades over the past few years.

The 2025 Tullamore parade takes place on Monday, March 17, starting as usual at 11.30am from the car park of the Bridge Shopping Centre.

The theme of this year's parade is: 'Celebrating Heritage and Culture'.

"We are working hard behind the scenes in preparation for the 2025 parade," stated Sean O' Brien, secretary and PRO of the organising committee.

"We got great feedback from the 2024 parade and our challenge is to keep the momentum going.

"The groups taking part really make the day, and we are also delighted with the amount of people who turn out each year to view the parade."

Sean said the 'Celebrating Heritage and Culture' theme this year will give groups "the opportunity to interpret aspects of our culture and heritage locally, at county level and national level.

"It also gives all nationalities living in our community the opportunity to demonstrate aspects of their culture.

"Who we are has been influenced by those who came before us and in many ways we are 'standing on the shoulders of giants' from all walks of life, be it religious such as St Patrick, or people who have influenced our historical, heritage, sporting, business or other aspects of our history.

"We look forward to how the groups taking part in the parade interpret this wide-ranging theme," continued Sean O'Brien.

At a recent AGM the following officers were elected: Joint Presidents, John O'Toole and Johnny O'Connor; Chairperson, Frankie O' Reilly; Vice-Chair, Martin O'Connor; Secretary/PRO, Sean O' Brien; Assistant Secretary, Yvonne Kerry; Treasurer, Catrherine Galvin; Assistant Treasurer, Enda Mollen; Social Media Co-Ordinator, Ciara Kinnarney; Schools Liaison Officer, Jenny O' Connor; Safety Officer, Johnny O' Connor; Review Stand Co-Ordinator, Ciara Kinnarney; Stewards Co-Ordinators, Tom Dully, John Plunkett, Mick Plunkett; Committee Members, Jim McGovern, Shane Murray, Kevin Boyce, Ger Scully.

Parade contacts are as follows: Frankie O'Reilly, 087 2287550; Sean O'Brien, 086 3892854; Johnny O'Connor 087 2602487.