ST Patrick's Day and All The Fun

There was a great sense of community pride in killybegs yesterday, with the return of the St. Patrick's Day Parade after a gap of twenty years.  It was hard to believe that the core of the group behind the revival - Mark Donnellan, Kevin Hegarty, Stephen Gill, Michael Heraty, Michael melly, Elaine Quinn, and Colm Gillespie - only got stuck into preparations in January.  They faced quite a challenge, with most marching bands already having committed to other parades, All their hard work and determination paid off splendidly, with a colourful,  fun-filled parade that would have done any other town proud.


  After 3pm, the parade set off from the Vocational Schoo, where participants had assembled.St. Patrick himself could not be expected to walk the route, he made his entrance in a pony and trap, much to the delight of the young and old.  All different organisations came together to make the parade special.


 There was floats from the Vocational school, the Youth Project, and the Drop-In Centre, mooney Boats, KER, Sinbad Marine Services, the local Gun Club, Sweet News and many others.  The Killybegs Samba Band added an exotic touch with amazing costumes and lively percussion while a band of pipers that had travelled down from Nothern Ireland got a very warm welcome from the crowd.  With the St. Catherine's marching Band still in Seattle former members stepped in to fill the void. "The Old St. Catherine's Marching Band' or The Seattle Rejects as they're more informally known, showed they sttill have what it takes to put on a great show. 




 Young people were represented with the soccer and the GAA clubs, the Cubs and Beavers, and the local Montessori school all taking part.  A fine cavalode of fire engines, motorcycles, vintage cars and tractors added to the excitement as the parade progressed down through the main street, on the shore road at Kelly's Quay and up to the diamond.  The town's business people had really gotten into the spirit by decoration their premises and dressing their windows in green, white and gold.  When the parade finished there was an exhibition of Irish dance from the Bonner Cannon School, followed by traditional music from Belfast-based Olte and the local band the difference, much to the crowd's enjoyment.  Many of the children quickly made their way to the fun fair, where they could play on the bouncy castles or have their face painted. 


Speaking on behalf of the organisers, Mark Donnellan said they were delighted at the way everyone had pulled together to make the day a great success.  It was a tremendous community effort, everyone really got involvedand you cuold tell that by the great atmosphere here today.  We'd like to thank the sponsors especially as this would not have been possible without them. 


We have added a new Gallrey of photos of the day so if you send to us we will see if the will go inot the Gallery .