Kilkelly plans ‘whale of a time’ for first St Patrick’s Day Parade

FLOAT This whale, created by Tom Mescall will be part of one of the floats in the Kilkelly Parade.

Michael Commins

IT may be their first time to host a St Patrick’s Day Parade but the good people of Kilkelly know a thing or two about the importance of choosing a good time.
Their debut parade gets underway at 5.30pm on Sunday evening when they have  the time-frame to themselves, thus avoiding clashing with many of the other parades that are taking place around 3pm.
“We decided there was no point whatsoever in clashing times with other parades around the region and there was big support to go with an evening parade,” says Kieran Tarpey.
“There are also a lot of people who like to watch the club football and hurling finals live from Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day and these will have concluded before we get our parade underway.”
The parade will start at St Celsus Church and proceed down High Street to the village square, out to the N17, hug the inside lane of the N17 for a few hundred yards before turning in at Highland Lodge and coming back into the Square and heading back up to the church.
Over 50 floats have already been booked for the big parade and there will be lots of entertainment and music in Kilkelly throughout the evening. There will also be a bucket collection in support of the Mayo Roscommon Hospice.
The chair of the parade committee is Padraig Reilly with Caroline Horan as secretary and Ray Cunniffe and Kieran Tarpey as joint treasurers. Other members of the committee include Brian Harrington, Gerry Coffey, George McGarry, Adrian Maye, John Corley, Michelle Horan, Laura Foye, Ian Gourley and Colin Kenny.
“We are expecting a fine gathering in Kilkelly on Sunday evening and it will be a great boost for the village. It is lovely to see so many people rallying behind the venture. We also have the giant whale created by Tom Mescall on board one of our floats. Naturally enough, we hope all who call our way will have a whale of a time in Kilkelly!” says Kieran.