‘COOLCATTS’ PARADE AND DISPLAY OF FIREWORKS

GHOULS, goblins, witches and warlocks will join forces for the ‘Coolcatts Halloween Festival’ which is due to turn the streets to blood, albeit the fake stuff, on October 31.

The parade is due to start from Clonard Church in Wexford at 5.15 p.m. before heading to Belvedere Grove, Ashfield Drive and Ferndale Park with a fireworks display due to get under way at 6 p.m.

The viewing area for the display, which is expected to last for at least 15 minutes, will be the Londis Car Park.

‘ The Festival is now in its third year and has grown year-on-year,’ said Sean Cooke, from the FDYS.

Last year, more than 1,000 people joined in the parade and fun surrounding it and numbers are expected to grow this time around, given the added attraction of the fireworks, weather permitting.

‘ The opportunity to build on this success and continue its growth is really important to us in FDYS,’ said Sean.

‘ The continued support of Wexford County Council, Nationwide Fireworks and the local community is vital to this growth and we hope everybody comes out and enjoys the event’.

Wexford’s Samba band Bloco Garman, have teamed up with FDYS Coolcotts to add to the atmosphere. Bloco will deliver a number of workshops over the coming week in FDYS with young people from the area and will perform on the night as part of the parade.

Yasmin Gangnus, from Bloco Garman, said the group was delighted to have its members involved in this year’s Halloween Fest.

This, she said, will encourage future drummers and spread carnival rhythms within the community.

Young people from the area will also get to display their samba skills on the night as night as they join in the parades from each participating area.

Sean said the FDYS was delighted to have once again, the support of local business man Anthony Doyle from Londis supermarket.

‘ This year Anthony has gone a step further by coming on board as a corporate sponsor, funding the lead up programme in the local FDYS Youth Centre.

‘It is such big occasion for the area and having the opportunity to get involved is just great,’ said Anthony, ‘we really want to build the Festival and hopefully it will continue to grow’.

all residents in the Coolcotts/Clonard area are advised to keep their pets indoors between 5.15 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. on the night.