Marching with pride in south Limerick

Ballylanders continues to maintain a proud tradition of hosting an annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. After its ‘Covid break’, it was business as usual in south Limerick last Thursday as this busy village staged a fantastic event that contained wonderful colour and pageantry.

Young people in particular love being involved in this kind of spectacle and they provided the bulk of participants.

FINE DAY

The day held up very well and fortunately umbrellas weren’t needed. Local stewards and members of An Garda Siochana combined to keep everything moving smoothly.

The parade lost no time making its way through the village and past the reviewing stand, where community activist, Bridget Fitzgerald, did the introductions. The Morning Star Vintage Group provided a range of vehicles for the parade.

VILLAGE PARK GATHERING

The presence of a village park (including playground) in Ballylanders has been a great boost to the area. Fully operational, it’s being added to all the time and a recently completed permanent structure was used following the parade to serve refreshments. This acted as a fundaiser for the park and the public were more than happy to subscribe.

A LOCAL AND NATIONAL LIFT

With Covid now firmly in the rear-view mirror, communities like Ballylanders can return to organising a whole range of events - the first of these was last week’s parade. Possessing a strong commercial base and ever improving facilities, things are looking up for the people of Ballylanders.

- See inside for more coverage

(Pic: John Ahern) Enjoying a well deserved cuppa following a very successful St. Patrick’s Day parade in Ballylanders, were l-r: Anne Gooley, Bridget Henebry, Liam Ryan, John Condon, Bridget Fitzgerald and Joss O’Brien.

(Pic: John Ahern) Liz Herbert, Shanballymore (right) with Sean and Alisha Magnier, from Kilworth, who provided photographic coverage of the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Ballylanders.

(Pic: John Ahern) Kieran and Adam Tobin from Glenroe, who were at the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Ballylanders.