Daniel and Majella are the toast of Millstreet

CELEBRITY couple Daniel and Majella O’Donnell really did make it to Millstreet to be grand marshals at the annual St Patrick’s Day Parade.

Kept under wraps for TV production purposes, it actually was one of the worst kept secrets ever and the Millstreet parade drew a mighty attendance.

The occasion and parade was centred on Daniel and Majella’s B&B Road Trip television series, which visited Millstreet’s very own celebrity, Eily Buckley, whose B&B is being featured in the upcoming series.

“Thanks to Eily and the people of Millstreet for the special welcome. It’s a teriffic atmosphere,” said Daniel as he joined in a sing-song with a local group after the parade.

IT’S been a past year of firsts in the tidy village of Knocknagree - they chose their first lord mayor(ess), they won their first All-Ireland club football title, and last Saturday they held their first St Patrick’s Day parade. And, as with the previous two milestones, they went all out for colour and imagination.

In fact, everywhere you looked on the national holiday there was a riot of colour, creativity and good homour - this, despite the bitter cold, with some having to endure snowfalls as they line dup to parade.

Celebrity couple Daniel and Majella O’Donnell made it to Millstreet to be grand marshals at the annual St Patrick’s Day Parade which attracted hundreds into the town for the late afternoon hosting.

Kept under wraps in terms of any public announcement, owing to television production constraints, one of the worst kept secrets failed to deter a mighty attendance for the visit of Ireland’s famous couple.

The occasion and parade was centred on Daniel and Majella’s B&B Road Trip television series, which visited Millstreet’s own celebrity, Eily Buckley. Eily is one of 12 B&Bs throughout Ireland chosen to participate in the 2018 TV programme later in the summer, and the production crew used the Millstreet St. Patrick’s Day parade to backbone the progamme.

With temperatures hovering just above freezing and a chilly breeze evident, it failed to deter performers and the public from coming out in large numbers. And they weren’t disappointed for a carnival atmosphere, Daniel, Majella and Eily sat in the vintage 1926 Model car driven by Michael Fleming in a parade that included Millstreet and Cullen Pipe Bands in addition to an assortment of community and business floats, exhibits and fleets.

Television cameras recorded the buzz both at ground and elevated levels. At a reviewing stand in the town Square, Millstreet Community Council chairman Noel Buckley welcomed the dignitaries.

And for television purposes, Daniel, Majella and Eily joined the Millstreet Community for a rendition of ‘Home to Donegal’.

“Thanks to Eily and the people of Millstreet for the special welcome. It’s a teriffic atmosphere and we’re so honoured to be part of the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations,” said Daniel.

No stranger to Millstreet, highlighted by a New Years Eve concert from the Green Glens that featured live on RTE television in 1994, Noel C Duggan welcomed Daniel back to Millstreet at the start of the parade.

And Millstreet Museum curator Seán Radley presented a special montage from the special 1994 hosting to Daniel and Majella.

Photo: John Tarrant Millstreet Grand Marshals Majella and Daniel O’Donnell joined by Eily Buckley at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Picture John Tarrant Millstreet Pipe Band added to the atmosphere of St. Patrick’s Day.

Photo by Sheila Fitzgerald Star golfer Mairead Martin who was Grand Marshal at the Kanturk Parade is pictured with her chauffeur, Jackie Carroll.

Noel C Duggan welcomes singer Daniel O’Donnell to Millstreet on St Patrick’s Day.

Sisters Ciara, Sarah and Ellen O’ Donovan were at the Boherbue St. Patrick’s Parade.

Kevin Doody Jnr. and Frank O’ Sullivan pictured in a replica of the Corner House Bar which was made by Kevin Doody Snr. for the Boherbue Parade.