Castlebar 1916 commemorations later this month

Mayo Day to follow at end of April

Castlebar Municipal District will mark the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising with a ceremony later this month.
The event will take place at the Mall, Castlebar on Sunday, April 24 at 12 noon.
Before that, people can meet at the Military Barracks in the town where local military, the Castlebar Concert and Marching Band and locals dressed as Irish Volunteers will lead a parade through the town centre to the Mall.
The event at the Mall will see the unveiling of a commemorative plaque and the 1916 Proclamation will be read by Commandant Gary Smyth, a native of Castlebar. The tricolour will be raised and wreaths will be laid.
Refreshments will be served at the Lough Lannagh Holiday Village afterwards, from 1pm.
The following weekend will see a series of events for the second annual Mayo Day, which is on Saturday, April 30.
To build up to the day, this Friday will see children from the town’s schools march around the town in a ‘Green and Red Parade’. The parade will leave Chapel Street at 11am and organisers are encouraging townsfolk to come out and give a big cheer to the children as they pass.
On Saturday there will be music on the streets throughout the day in Castlebar, with a performance area on Market Square where local groups like the Town Band, Balla Pipe Band and others will perform.
There will be singers and musicians such as Con Murphy, Conor O’Shea, Michael Buckton, Julianne Hennelly, Tanya McDonnell and Aidan Bolger joining in too. Traditional musicians from the Rolling Waves group will take to the stage also. The Pink Ribbon Cycle will take place that same day.
On Sunday, May 1 Mayo County Council will hold their official 1916 Commemoration on The Mall in Castlebar and this will include a parade and a family fun day. This will coincide with the West of Ireland Women’s Mini Marathon.