Ballydavid dry run for St Pat’s parade

PREPARATIONS for St Patrick’s Day are already underway across the country but nowhere can match the enthusiasm of Baile na nGall where they are to hold a full dress rehearsal on this Thursday night for what locals believe to be the earliest and shortest parade in the country.

That Baile na nGall holds the earliest parade is hard to dispute, given that it starts on the stroke of midnight on March 16/17. As far as distance is concerned, the villages of Dripsey in County Cork and Carraigholt in County Clare also claim to have the shortest parade, but the difference comes down to no more than a few strides – depending on how straight a route is taken from the starting point outside TP’s pub to the finish at Begley’s pub on the far side of Ballydavid pier.

Baile na nGall’s Banna Cheoil an Atlantach Fhian has been practising since Christmas and, with TG4 cameras expected on the 17 th, a rehearsal for the torchlight parade is being held this Thursday at 8pm. Everybody is invited to join in – “bring your pike and we’ll supply the turf,” says Seán Breandán Ó Conchúir of TP’s.

On St Patrick’s Day a second parade will be held at 4pm in Baile na nGall, starting around Paddy O’Mahony’s house and proceeding from there to the pier.

In Dingle St Patrick’s Day will also get an early start with the local Fife and Drum band’s traditional dawn parade starting from Ashmount at 6am. Despite the early start this parade has attracted a growing following in recent years with hundreds of people now abandoning their beds to march around the town before the break of day.

Dingle also holds a second parade, starting at 12.45pm from Ashmount. There is no theme for this year’s parade so people are welcome to join in with whatever floats or costumes they wish to bring to the party. Participants are asked to be in place at Ashmount at 12.30pm.

In Baile an Fheirtéaraigh the St Patrick’s Day parade will be held after 10am Mass (about 11am), starting from the Lár Ionad Forbatha Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta outside the village.