After a prolonged period of announcements, unforeseen circumstances, bumps on the road, cancellations, postponements, protests and downright despair at times, we are at the dawn of a most welcome new era.
It’s an era with its own set of unknowns but it’s an era in which responsibility for the welfare of one’s health is in one’s own hands and mind.
Yes, almost everywhere that was shut during the height of this lingering pandemic is now open.
New Shoots and Buds
It’s certainly the time of year for new shoots and buds and all that goes with the onset of spring.
The onset of spring, in the days when all around us was so normal that we took it all for granted, was always about planning with absolute certainty for the year ahead.
First item on the planning agenda for communities throughout Ireland and, increasingly, the rest of the world was always the local St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Celebrate Like Never Before
Now that the normality we knew well is edging its way back, so are the planning meetings in towns and villages everywhere.
St. Patrick’s Day will be celebrated like never before and even though it’s still the best part of a month and a half away, plans have reached the hatching stage in Castleisland at least.
There’s a set of brand new bunting, there are plans for a pair of Grand Marshals and the ‘pipe-line’ also includes an appearance by the Cullen Pipe Band to lead the parade.
Joe Dolan Tribute
There’s a slight departure from the local culture of the day in a Joe Dolan Tribute concert on a gig rig on the street for a warming up hour or so before the main event.
The parade itself will start at 1:30pm and again it will be hosted, started and finished on the yard of the Castleisland Co-Op Mart and will run on the one-way system which proved so successful during the most recent parade.
Grand Marshals Confirmed
The Grand Marshals have just been confirmed as Ciara Griffin the recently retired, inspirational captain of the Irish Women’s Rugby Team and the current All-Ireland Ploughing Vintage Class title holder, Aeneas Horan.
Aeneas won his fourth All-Ireland ploughing title at the end of last September at the national championships in Ratheniska in Co. Laois.
The ad-hoc committee expressed its delight at being afforded the opportunity to honour these two local heroes and national high achievers at the most prestigious event held in the town in the run of the year.
Ladders and Cherry Pickers
The same committee will be up ladders and cherry pickers in high-vis vest stringing patriotic coloured and new bunting and flags on and between poles as the March 17th date shoves ever near.
They’re also putting out shoulders-to-the-wheel calls now for an outpouring of community spirit in the areas of float creation, volunteers for stewarding and sponsorship to cover the insurance costs of running a very public event of this kind.
Apart at all from the return after the periods of lock-down and restrictions, there’s an entirely different sense of spirit driving this year’s parade.
Hearts and Souls
The 1989 founders of the first ever Castleisland parade , Aeneas and Helen Leane died a few weeks ago and just ten days apart; Aeneas on December 30th and Helen on January 9th.
They were honoured during the rain soaked 2017 parade when they were picked up from their home at Lower Main Street and chauffeur driven through to town at the head of the parade and called out for their great community service and patriotism by parade announcer, Charlie Farrelly.
The Leanes put their hearts and souls into the event for the first decade of its existence and saw it safely established on the town’s calendar of events.
You’ll see more as the time draws near.
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