The Argus

First St Patrick’s Parade for Cooley

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HISTORY will be made this Saint Patrick’s Day on Saturday on the Cooley Peninsula. The first parade on the Peninsula marking the national feast day will take place commencing at 1pm from Bush.

It is generating a lot of excitement and anticipati­on among all the generation­s. Schools, businesses and dancing schools are among the different organisati­ons who have been canvassed and indicated their willingnes­s to march and honour Saint Patrick with the route to proceed along the main Dundalk /Greenore Road and end at the Cooley Kickhams sports complex.

The Carlingfor­d Pipe band will provide musical entertainm­ent on the route, and help create an atmosphere in keeping with the occasion.

All participan­ts will be served with refreshmen­ts, and music will be provided for young and old in the Cooley Kickhams clubrooms. The Rambling String band will perform a variety of music for adults, and there will be a disco for children.

The big rugby match will also be screened for all to see with the parade to be over well in time to cheer on Ireland to hopefully beat England.

The idea of a parade was floated and was quickly embraced and acted upon in the last number of weeks by a number of enthusiast­ic and committed local folk in the area who feel that it would be nice for the area to have a parade of their own.

It has been something that hasn’t happened in memory, and is meant as a focal point for the whole of the Peninsula to celebrate the national feast day.

The reaction to the plan has been warm from the many schools, businesses and different bodies contacted in a short space of time.

The organisers hope that it will be the forerunner for an annual parade in the area, and would welcome all enquiries and entries from within and indeed outside the peninsula. Those interested in participat­ing can telephone 087 6494965 beforehand. Or if they elect to turn up on the day, the organisers will accommodat­e them, as they aim to make it a day to remember and a fitting celebratio­n. All participan­ts are asked to congregate at 12.30pm, a half an hour in advance of the parade. The organisers are expecting a variety of floats, with vintage cars and trucks, and young and old walking the route are expected to be joined by four legged best friends.

“Everybody is welcome and if by chance they only learn about it late we will fit them in on the day. Hopefully it will lead to a parade every year,” was the wish expressed by one of the organisers.

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