Mayo is set to have a fun filled St Patrick's weekend.
The people of Mayo can enjoy not one but two parades which will be held in Swinford and Claremorris.
The Claremorris parade the day begins at 1:00pm in the Square with vibrant traditional Irish music and dance. The highly anticipated St Patrick's Day Parade will commence at 3:00pm (15:00 hrs), featuring over 30 floats.
The celebration will continue in a spectacular fireworks display at 8:00pm with optimal viewing from the back of the Square followed by the “Hooley in the Hall,” a traditional music and dance event in the Town Hall in association with Claremorris Community Sports & Recreational Centre which will start at 8.30pm.
Last-minute float applications are still being accepted. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the organisers via the event's social media page HERE.
The Swinford parade is set to turn St Patrick’s Day into an exciting weekend-long festival, bringing together the local community and visitors for a packed schedule of events. The celebration will culminate with the highly anticipated St Patrick’s Day Parade at 3pm on March 17, led by Grand Marshal Bríd O’Connell.
Bríd who has been instrumental in organising the popular Síamsa Sráide Street and Arts Festival has also made significant contributions to community initiatives and to preserving and promoting the Irish language, culture and heritage.
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The festival will kick off on Friday March 14 with an official launch event at 8pm in The Whitehouse Bar with a table quiz also taking place on the night. On Saturday March 15 the Michael Davitt Comhaltas branch will perform a fundraising session from 10am at Tesco while in the afternoon at 2pm Swinford GAA will host a Rounders Blitz.
The town is set to come alive on Saturday night with a Trad Trail from 8pm. It’s one of the feature events of the festival as it brings together talented local and visiting musicians, singers and dancers playing in various venues throughout Swinford.
History enthusiasts will have the chance to immerse themselves in the town’s rich past during a special historical talk on Sunday March 16 at 1pm.
The highlight of the weekend, the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, will take place at 3pm on March 17. The procession will make its way through the streets of Swinford, where spectators can expect a fantastic display of floats, music, and entertainment. The theme this year is ‘The Year That Was’.
For more information on event locations or to join the parade visit HERE.
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