Tenth parade the best yet
CARNEW celebrated the 10th anniverary of its St Patrick’s Day Parade by staging the best event ever, with groups going all out to impress and entertain spectators on a freezing cold day.
A highlight of the parade was a street theatre spectacle by the Gap Arts Festival which featured St Patrick himself and some weird and wonderful larger-than-life puppets. The group won the Pat Doran Perpetual Trophy for Best Overall Float.
‘It was very impressive and colourful and really added to the parade which was of a really good standard this year for the 10th anniversary,’ said committee member Lorna Doran, who thanked everyone for braving the cold to come and celebrate St Patrick’s Day in style.
‘Well done and thank you to all involved in putting together that many fantastic parade entries and helping to make our 10th anniversary parade the biggest and best yet’, she said.
The prize for Most Entertaining Entry was won by Foróige Chillax Cafe and Chillas Juniors who had all the fun of the fair on a giant rollercoaster.
The Most Topical Award was won by Carnew Training and Development Centre which celebrated 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage with members wearing period costumes while chained to a gate which they pulled along the parade route.
The prize for Best Walking Group was presented to Kilrush Askamore Coiste na nÓg who cut a colourful dash in matching beanie hats.
The award for Best Youth Entry was won by ‘Princess Kathleen Molloy’ and her carriage.
The prize for Best Window Display was presented to Ina’s Alterations.
The Masters of Ceremonies were Kevin McEvoy and Michael Kinsella while the Grand Marshal of the Carnew parade was local historian and photographer John Wilkinson.
The presentation of prizes took place in Coláiste Bhríde where heart-warming refreshments were served and entertainment provided by the Hennigan School of Dance along with a display of country dancing to promote the Garden County Garden Festival taking place in Carnew next September.
‘By the Community, For the Community’ is the slogan of the Carnew parade and there was great help from everyone on the day, according to Lorna, but the comnmittee could do with more volunteers during the preparation stages earlier in the year.
She thanked Carnew Training and Development Centre, South East Security and Safety, Candy’s and Caroline and Victor Young for looking after the refreshments.