Donations crucial to future of parade
ORGANISERS of the Sligo St. Patrick’s Day parade are appealing with attendees to donate to their bucket collection on the day.
The bucket collection, held during the parade, is a crucial fundraiser and all proceeds go towards funding the parade for the next year.
The 2015 parade almost didn’t go ahead due to funding cuts, but an intervention from CEO of Sligo County Council Ciaran Hayes ensured that such a scenario didn’t happen.
With less funding available each year for local parades, it has become increasingly difficult to fund the Sligo St. Patrick’s Day parade.
It is necessary for the committee to carry out fundraising each year, and there has been an increased need for it.
It is estimated that 20,00025,000 people attend the parade in Sligo town each year, and organisers stress that should each person give just € 1, then that would be enough to fund the event.
“Without that bucket collection on the day, the parade would not be able to survive. That bucket collection done on the day is to keep the parade going for the following year,” said Deirdre Healy McGowan, Chairperson of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee.
“It’s extremely important ( that Sligo has a parade). We did a bucket collection last week for St. Patrick’s Day parade and there was two elderly ladies giving us money and I was explaining to them that we nearly lost the parade last year due to a lack of funding and they were astounded.
“They said ‘ oh my god, Sligo’s lost so much we might as well throw in the towel’.
“It would really drain the heart out of Sligo if there was no parade. The likes of China, India, Dubai all have parades. For the Sligo people not to have a parade, I don’t think people would get out of their beds on St. Patrick’s Day if it wasn’t for the parade, where they can celebrate being Irish,” added Deirdre.
Preparations for the parade are well underway, and there has been a huge amount of interest so far. Applications must be made online this year at stpatricksdaysligo.com.
“Last year we had an outstanding amount of participants so this year we’re hoping for more. We have a couple of surprises in line.
“Every year we try to do something different to make it exciting and this year is no different,” said Deirdre.
The theme of this year’s parade is 1916, following on from last year’s theme based on WB Yeats.
It is hoped that people will turn out in huge numbers to commemorate 1916.
How exactly the theme of 1916 will be reflected in the parade is up to the participants.
“The participants have to base their floats on the theme. All in all there’s 20 prizes handed out in 20 different categories. The overall prize will be fore the best themed float on the day,” said Deirdre.
Sligo Intercultural Forum will be holding a St. Patrick’s Day celebration following the parade in Gillooly Hall.
There will be live music, food, and entertainment for children from 2pm until 5pm for anyone looking for an alternative way to spend the day.
The event, funded by the North- West Regional Drug and Alcohol Task- Force, is open to all.
For more info contact Kebba at 0861918758 or Cathy at 0838405494. Alernatively, check out Sligo Intercultural Forum on Facebook.