Turning back the clock 100 years at historic St Patrick’s Day Parade

WEXFORD’S St Patrick’s Day Parade could be a blast from the past as the organisers are asking people taking part to dress as their ancestors did at the time of the first parade in 1917.

‘We are hoping that as many people as possible will dress up,’ said Parade Secretary John Fowler.

‘We are also asking anyone who intends taking part in this year’s parade to forward their applications without delay so that we can plan well in advance,’ he said

Mayor Cllr Frank Staples said St Patrick’s Day is a day of pride, heritage and celebration and Wexford is proud to have the oldest parade in Ireland ‘and we are still going strong’.

The festivities will begin with the traditional civic mass will be at 9 a.m. in Bride Street Church, attended by the mayor, local deputies, councillors and other guests. The Blessing of the Shamrock will take place at this mass.

The parade will assemble at the Maudlintown area down to the Trinity Street 9.45 a.m., with a number of road closures in place from 9.15 a.m. from Brendan’s Road into Maudlintown, from the Maudlintown traffic lights down into William Street, Trinity Street to the junction of Parnell Street/Trinity Street.

No traffic will be allowed into this area until after the parade has started.

As the parade starts, the gardai will be closing other streets along the route of the parade so the public are warned to expect delays and arrive on time. Those wanting to park their cars to enable them to watch the parade should get in early. The parade will move off from Trinity Street at 10.45 a.m., along William Street, Trinity Street, Paul Quay, Crescent Quay, Commercial Quay (with the reviewing stand located just on the right hand side of the Quay adjacent to the bridge) and into Redmond Place and Redmond Square.

Traffic will not be allowed into Trinity Street from the junction with Parnell Street up to the traffic light at Maudlintown from 9.30 a.m. until the paraded has passed.

Mr Fowler said safety is paramount ‘anything that turns up for the parade that in the eyes of our safety officers is a danger to anyone will not be allowed take part’ and anyone taking part should obey the stewards’ directions. If anyone is looking for application forms or further information, please contact the secretary on 087-9522795 or log on to www.wexfordparade.com and download the application forms