Achill Sound St Patrick's Parade cancelled due to wind and rain

THE Achill Sound St Patrick's Day Parade which was to take place this afternoon has been cancelled due to the inclement weather conditions on the island.

The St Patrick's Day celebrations were due to continue on Achill Island this Bank Holiday Monday with hundreds of people expected to line the streets of Achill Sound for the village's annual parade.

A host of community and sporting organisations based in Achill were due to take part in the parade which was due to begin at the Achill GAA grounds at 1pm this afternoon.

However, with heavy wind and rain forecasted for lunchtime, the organisers of the parade have had to take the difficult decision to cancel the event.

The event, however, has been rescheduled to take place on Easter Sunday, March 31 with organisers asking people to swap their shamrocks for Easter eggs.

“Due to unpredictable weather conditions and high winds, we're embracing the luck of the Irish and rescheduling our St Patrick's Parade to Easter Sunday.

“Let's turn those shamrocks into Easter eggs and keep the festive spirit alive. Mark your calendars for a double dose of celebration on Sunday, March 31,” the organisers wrote on their Facebook page.

The St Patrick's Day celebrations in the parish of Achill is one of the highlights in the year with many of the island's Diaspora travelling home to all corners of the world to be part of the unique celebrations.

The tradition of pipe bands from the different villages on the island marching on St Patrick's Day has been a central role in the celebrations for almost a century and this year was no different.

The weather played its part on St Patrick's Day with large crowds coming out to soak up the atmosphere as the bands from Dooagh, Pollagh, Keel, Dookinella and Tonragee met at Dookinella Church.

For members of the Dooagh Pipe Band, St Patrick's Day starts early with the traditional 6am reveille before they march through the village.

It was a special year for the members of the Tonragee Pipe Band who celebrated their 25th anniversary and were given a guard of honour by members of the other pipe bands.