On Days Like This its Easy to ……

Ed and John Kelliher (left) and Michael Somers were adjudged to have the best turned out cars in the vintage class participation in the castleisland St. Patrick’s Day Parade. With them is sponsor Declan McGaley (centre) and vintage car enthusiasts after the parade. ©Photograph: John Reidy 17-3-2003

Members of the ‘Sliabh Luachra IFA’ Skevenas Bar meitheal pictured on their way to the start of the Castleisland parade. From left: Joe Martin, Michael Conway, James O’Connor and Moss Reidy. ©Photograph: John Reidy 17-3-2003

Castleisland parade working group member, Ted Kenny – was delighted at the turn-out for the 2003 parade. ©Photograph: John Reidy 17-3-2003

The busy scene on Main Street, Castleisland on a fine St. Patrick’s Day in 2003. ©Photograph: John Reidy 17-3-2003

A saint for a day: That’s Mike Mitchell aboard the John O’Connor Meats float. The late Mike could bless or curse you in equal measure. ©Photograph: John Reidy 17-3-2003

Cordal was well represented at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Here, Jimmy Cullinane with Padraig Fitzmaurice are pictured aboard their donkey and cart. ©Photograph: John Reidy 17-3-2003

Busy, busy, From one end of the Main Street to the other on St. Patrick’s Day 21 years ago. ©Photograph: John Reidy 17-3-2003

A Firies / Farranfore delegation in Castleisland for the parade included: Carmel Kate Kelliher, Con O’Mahony, Patrick Kelliher and Mark Sherwood. ©Photograph: John Reidy 17/03/2003

Back to the start: Four Castleisland men heading for the Tralee Road and the start of their local St. Patrick’s Day Parade. From left: Moss Reidy, James O’Connor, Joe Martin and Michael Conway. ©Photograph: John Reidy 17-3-2003

Charlie Farrelly was the master of ceremonies at Monday’s huge 2003 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Castleisland. ©Photograph: John Reidy 17-3-2003

Children from Kilmurry National School sending their Peace Message to the world on St. Patrick’s Day 2003. And isn’t is still need more than ever today 21 years later. ©Photograph: John Reidy 17-3-2003

Observing the law as the 2003 parade set off in Castleisland were from left: Jerome Sheehy, Cormac, Art, Conor and Niamh O’Mahony, Cillian and Jacinta Hickey. ©Photograph: John Reidy 17-3-2003

St. Patrick was from Cordal: The late Tim O’Donoghue in full dress for the National Holiday during the Castleisland parade. ©Photograph: John Reidy 17-3-2003

The government jet controversy was parodied by this group representing Lynch’s Pharmacy during the Castleisland parade on Monday. ©Photograph: John Reidy 17-3-2003

On days like this it’s very easy to wonder where in the name of God and St. Patrick all the years have gone to.

Especially in an occupation like this where you trawl files marked with the years they belonged to.

You open them and view all the youthful faces and, if a picture paints a thousand words, it also vividly conveys an unmistakable sense of the innocence of the times and the relative calm and peace of the time.

To mark the day that’s in it I went away back to this day in 2003 and you’ll see it all in the images of the time.

Starting from the Mart at 1:30pm

Happy St. Patrick’s Day 2024. Today’s parade in Castleisland will set off from the huge yard of the Castleisland Co-Op Mart at 1:30pm.

Participants are asked to gather there no later than 1pm so that the structure of the parade can be put in place.

A reminder also that there will be music on Main Street from 12noon or after Mass. Paschal Brennan will bring his Joe Dolan Show to town for at least the third time in recent years.

Supposed to Clear

The latest on the weather is that the day is supposed to clear for the afternoon just at about the time of the start of the parade.

The bitter March breeze should prompt people to at least dress for the cold if not for the rain and it’s better to have a coat than to want it.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day 2024.
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