Weather of all kinds, good and bad, has no meas on endeavour and effort and it proved so again this week in Castleisland.
At the crack of dawn on Sunday morning last, the friends of St. Patrick were out and up ladders and in hoists putting up flags and bunting for Thursday’s great national feast day.
However, bad, boorish weather had its say earlier this week when storm force gales undid the good work of the voluntary group – none of whom have any business interests in the town or general area. But they tore into the work again this Saturday morning at an equally un-Godly hour and again found Eamon O’Connor’s hoist at their disposal.
Nation-wide Demand
An unprecedented, nation-wide demand drove the group up as far as Monaghan to secure enough flags and banners to supplement and replace their stocks and to give the town that St. Patrick’s Day look we’re now so accustomed to.
It is now likely, predicted in fact, that the new street decorations will oversee the biggest and best St. Patrick’s Day Parade ever – or at least for years – and there have been some amazing days in town on this great national holiday.
Anyone with ideas for floats from the locality, and from our ever supportive neighbouring villages, are welcome to bring them on.
Garda Traffic Plan
After consultations with the local Garda station a traffic plan is being implemented. That entails all parade participants gathering on the yard of Castleisland Co-Op Mart at least half an hour ahead of the off time at 1:30pm.
All vehicles and floats are asked to access the yard by Convent Street / Creamery Lane as the parade will start by exiting the yard at the top-of-the-town and proceed down for a lap of the town and, as part of the traffic plan, all vehicles are asked to finish back on the mart yard.
Stewards on Hand
Stewards will be on hand to direct parade traffic at the vital points throughout the town to ensure the smooth running of the event – and the weather looks likely to oblige the plans for an enjoyable, family day out according to the forecast.
This parade will have two Grand Marshals in 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.
Cullen Pipe Band
They will be led out by the stirring tones of the Cullen Pipe Band and there is no limit being put on the numbers of spectators expected to line the accommodating footpaths and and centre island of the very wide Main Street.
Those who lack imagination and can’t put Joe Dolan and St. Patrick together in any set of circumstances are in for a right land as there is a Joe Dolan Tribute concert on a gig rig on the street to warm the gathering up hour or so before the parade.
But then they do say that reality is only for those who lack imagination.
You could say that here’s an entirely different sense of spirit behind this year’s parade.
The 1989 organisers of the first ever Castleisland parade, Aeneas and Helen Leane died almost together, Aeneas on December 30th and his beloved Helen on January 9th.
Honoured at 2017 Parade
To their credit , the current crop of parade organisers honoured the Leane’s during the 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.
It was the Leanes who put St. Patrick and Castleisland together for the first decade of the parade’s existence and they saw it safely established on the town’s calendar of events.
You can contact The Maine Valley Post on… Anyone in The Maine Valley Post catchment area who would like to send us news and captioned photographs for inclusion can send them to: jreidy@mainevalleypost.com Queries about advertising and any other matters regarding The Maine Valley Post can also be sent to that address or just ring: 087 23 59 467.
