Watch a video of the Parade here >>
True to tradition, the Parade was lead by the 3rd Monaghan C.B.S.I. who marched in impressive formation through the town. In pursuit the Steadfast Brass Band, who had also played beautifully at the flag raising earlier that morning at the Courthouse, marched proudly behind and also managed to pick up one of the prizes in the parade! The local Councillors joined dignitaries on the reviewing stand, while our Mayor Matt Carthy impressed us all with the magnificent job he did as M.C. announcing all the participants as they passed the reviewing stand.
As ever, the local primary schools made huge efforts on the day, each with their own theme. St. Joseph’s Boys National School won 1st prize for the best float with their impressive display of yellow faced “Mignons” from the movie “Despicable Me”. Scoil Rois looked fierce as they commemorated Brian Boru and the Vikings, while Bunscoil Lughaidh Naofa brightened the parade beautifully dressed as spring flowers newly in bloom!
The Vintage Section is a big part of the Parade each year and as usual there were magnificent displays from Lisdoonan, Carrickmacross and Muff Vintage Clubs. Commercial Floats included GoLo Insurances, Supervalue, Vanity Nightclub, Komandor, Steele’s Menswear, JC Environmental and Hoey Fuels, Wakely Engineering, McElvaney’s Waste and Recycling and Matthews Coaches. O’Reilly Concrete also provided a very well designed float based on the movie “Up”, with a house floating down Main Street held up with balloons!
Well done to all the bands and organisations that participated, their contribution to the Parade was appreciated by all.
Seachtain na Gaeilge – Fuinneog Álainn – Best Shop window was won by Walshes Newsagents, O’Neill Street. Well done to all the shops that participated. The standard was exceptional as ever.
The St. Patrick’s Day Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who took part in the Parade, the Garda Síochána, the Town Council Staff, Cllr Matt Carthy, Mr. Seamus McEneaney, The Fiddler’s Elbow, Cloughvalley Stores and everyone that came to watch the Parade.