Castlebar St Patrick’s Day parade to move

Edwin McGreal

Castlebar Mitchels’ success on Saturday night in reaching the All-Ireland Club Football Final on St Patrick’s Day means the town’s St Patrick’s Day Parade will be moved.
Details of the parade were released last week for March 17 but Castlebar’s success means the parade will now take place on Sunday, March 20, organisers confirmed to The Mayo News last night.
And no doubt organisers hope that the Andy Merrigan Cup, the All-Ireland Club Football title, will be a part of the parade three days after Castlebar Mitchels play Ballyboden St Enda’s in the decider in Croke Park.
Organisers had a move to March 20 provided for if Mitchels reached the All-Ireland Final.
The parade will have an Easter Rising theme and the committee are working closely with Irish language business group Gnó Mhaigh Eo to enhance the use of the ‘cúpla focal’ during the festivities.
After the success of last year’s parade, organisers will continue with the same format and host pre and post-parade activities in Market Square. These activities proved to be a great hit with families as they could enjoy the events in a relaxed, safe, fun area. Once again this year there will be ceol, damhsa, fun, face-painters, bouncy castles, magician, street performers agus go leor eile!  The same mardi-gras feel will be foremost again this year focusing on colour, energy and participation. Ní neart go cur le chéile.

Competition
Gnó Mhaigh Eo will be running a window display competition. The theme will be ‘Éire 1916’ and each participating business must use the Irish language in their display to be entered in the comórtas. They are offering a lucrative advertising package in association with Mid West Radio to the winning business. The Gnó Mhaigh Eo team is available to offer advice and free translations for businesses if needed, so be sure to contact them on gno@gnomhaigheo.ie.
Anyone interested in entering a float, band, marching group should contact the organisers as soon as possible in order to register your interest and to guarantee your slot. Any schools that may not have a band but would like to march in the parade can do so too. The organisers have costumes available that they will give to schools and they can then march with a school banner at the front.  As costumes are limited, interested schools should make contact immediately.