Embattled committee set theme of 2020 St Patrick’s Day parade

A MOST constructive public consultation took place last week on the way Saint Patrick’s Day in Mallow is celebrated.

The debate really came down to the struggles involved for the Committee organising the event and to the issue of whether or not a Parade in Mallow was the best way to celebrate our Irishness on March 2020.

Although the attendance was lower than expected the Committee was most pleased that the newly elected President of Mallow Chamber of Commerce, Sharon Gregg, along with local Councillors, Cllr. James Kennedy and Cllr. Gearoid Murphy attended.

The Chamber president said “I want to state that having a Parade in Mallow in 2020 is a must. Down through the years there has always been a great deal of excitement around the town in anticipation of the Parade. The townspeople look forward to being out on the streets, meeting their friends and neighbours, and looking at the shop windows and then enjoying the ‘apres parade’ cup of tea in our local restaraunts and bars.

“I ... hear of the various struggles the Committee goes through each year in organising the event, but I am happy to inform the Committee that they have the full support of Mallow Chamber of Commerce in their planning for Mallow Parade 2020.”

Cllr. James Kennedy similarly pledged his support for the continuation of the Parade as happened in previous years. He went on to say, “I understand the financial struggles involved in putting on any major event outdoors nowadays. I know the value of having the Parade in Mallow, the capital of North Cork, and I give my assurance that I will ensure that the Committee gets the full support and backing of Cork County Council in any way possible in the run up to the Parade.”

Cllr. Gearoid Murphy spoke on the issues of compliance in terms of issues like road closure for the period of the Parade. He went on to say, “I have experienced the Parade in Mallow ever since I first became a Councillor. The Parades have been a real review of living life in, and the community spirit of the town of Mallow. While there are always going to be issues it was great that, while having more Compliance (Insurance) and Corporate Governance (Structures, and Health and Safety Standards ) issues I am happy that the approach taken by the Committee to finding solutions to these issues is the right way of going about tackling these. Like my fellow Councillor I too will be an advocate for the 2020 Parade in Mallow at Cork County council level.”

The Chairman of the Committee, Noel O’Connor said: “As this is the 31st anniversary of the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade the Committee have decided that it is time to give the people their chance to have their say on the future of the Parade. Just think that when the first Parade was held in Mallow there were no mobile phones; there was no Facebook and Twitter; there were no Sky Channels on TV and the only GAA Matches on television were the two All-Ireland Finals. So as society changes mould new patterns in our busy lives, so it is important that we in the Parade Committee examine what we are doing and ensure that we are doing it in the right way.

“It is true that, like all other community organisations which are based on volunteers giving of their time, the Committee have felt the reduction in the number of people who have the time to give the commitment to attend meetings to organise the Parade. Even more difficult is to find people to act as stewards on Saint Patrick’s Day. This lack of volunteers is confounded by more rigid rules and regulations attaching to organising events like the Parade.

“But I am pleased tonight to have this chance to lay out clearly to everyone present the issues that the Committee have faced, especially in the last two Parades. Having done this here tonight I am so happy that we have the support of the Councillors, the Mallow Chamber of Commerce and the Tidy Towns Committee, of which we are a sub-committee and I acknowledge the presence of the new Secretary of the Tidy Towns, Rosario O’Flaherty.

“Indeed, Rosario gave our Committee great support last year and is committed to being even more active in the Parade Committee this year.

“As Chairman I am pleased to announce that Mallow Saint Patrick’s Day Parade will again take place on March 17th 2020.”

Ms Hanna Sheahan, Treasurer of the Parade Committee, although unable to attend, sent this message which was read out at the meeting: ‘As a Founding Member of the Mallow Parade Committee, I am proud of the great Parades we have had down through years. The numbers participating have grown from strength to strength with over twenty five entries last year. I have really enjoyed my time meeting the townspeople on the day of the Parade. All the businesses in Mallow Town knew when the Parade time was near when they used to see me arrive at their doors to ask for a subscription to support the organisation of the Parade. Unfortunately I was unable to visit the shops this year but the businesses responded quite well, but not as well as other years,”

Ms. Mary O’Brien, Secretary of the Mallow Parade Committee went on to say: “I have been Secretary for many years now. I have felt it an honour and a privilege, as a person with a deep interest in developing a community spirit in the Town of Mallow. Although I am involved in many other voluntary organisations in Mallow I am particularly happy with the way the Mallow Parade has developed over the years to become a wonderful Community event with a huge participation by the young people of the town.

“The Chairman has outlined that this year’s parade will go ahead and I can reveal the the Theme of this year’s Parade will be one based on ‘A Green Mallow’ which will be one of Mallow being aware of climate change and what we can do in our community to be more environmentally friendly.

“We as a Committee don’t want the Parade to become a protest but rather a positive expression by both young and old of this serious national and international issue. We would welcome schools and other community bodies in the north Cork area who might already have projects in this area started to consider preparing to come and participate in this year’s Parade.

“Details of how to be involved can be got by contacting me at the Naionra, Mallow GAA Complex”.