There were many strange sights and sounds on the streets of Castleisland on St. Patrick’s Day.
And, probably, the strangest ever, in the context of what we’ve all been through, were the sight and sounds of the thronged Main Street.
There have been some huge crowds drawn in by this event ever since it first hit the streets here in 1989.
But this one was something different and special even in the light or darkness of all that’s going on around us now.
Meet Neighbours and Friends
People of all ages were just delighted to avail of the chance to get out and meet neighbours and friends and properly celebrate the great national holiday.
The weather acted most obligingly and the rain that fell, as the last of the participants were returning to the mart yard base, certainly favoured the wide open public house doors.
Floats were understandably thin on the street as people just didn’t have the certainty or the time for the creative investment and teamwork needed for the standards we’ve become used to here.
Feet on the Street
But the feet on the street and the clubs and the schools certainly made their presence felt and made St. Patrick’s Day 2022 one that will be remembered.
Cllr. Charlie Farrelly and his team of volunteers guided and stewarded the throngs this way and that and kept the waves of humanity flowing freely. It was truly a magnificent occasion and a credit to those who put it all together.
“The weather was just perfect and the rain, when it came, was a blessing for the publicans and they were busy all day and last night the places were just thronged,” said Cllr. Farrelly this morning.
It’s in Good Hands
In the height of the mass movement of the event I couldn’t help remembering 1989 and the parade founders, Aeneas and Helen Leane who passed away at the end of December and early January respectively. It was their day for so many years and they put some serious work into getting it up and running from scratch.
They can rest easily as it’s now in good and safe hands.
It’s in the hands of the current organisers and in those of the hundreds of children who marched on the streets yesterday while establishing their own sense of identity and rooting traditions for the years ahead.
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