'Support your parade' call goes out to local groups
Sligo Saint Patricks Day Parade Commitee meeting in the Belfry last week, back row from left, Joe McCann, Vice-Chairman, Siobhain Gordon, Assistant Secretary, Clr.Tony McLoughlin, Assistant PRO, Clr. Deirdre Healy-McGowan, Eddie Watters. Front row from... Credit: Photo: Carl Brennan
The organisers of the St. Patrick's Day Parade have renewed appeals to industrial and commercial, community, sporting and voluntary groups to support Sligo's 40th anniversary event.
"Once again, the Parade will only be as good as the level of entries we receive and we would hope we get a good response for what is a special year," said Committee P.R.O., Seamus Dolan.
A new-look 'reverse route' will commence at Pearse Road at the usual 12 noon start time and will proceed down Teeling Street, turning left into Castle Street and Grattan Street, right into O'Connell Street, where the reviewing stand will be located.
Due to the fact that the larger floats will be unable to turn left into Wine Street, given the recent works to facilitate the re-opening of the O'Connell Street, the Parade will turn right at the G.P.O. and cross Hyde Bride and into Markievicz Road.
From there, it will proceed in the left lane across Hughes Bridge into Queen's Store Road, continuing up Union Street, into Adelaide Street and Temple Street, before dispersing at Mail Coach Road.
The bollards at the Grattan Street end of O'Connell Street will be taken up to facilitate the parade, with others also being removed from O'Connell Street.
"There has been quite a favourable response to the new route and hopefully we will have a Parade to match the 40th anniversary," the P.R.O. added.
Bands from Northern Ireland will again participate, including the Strabane Brass and Concert Band, a long-time suppoter of the Sligo Parade. The Ballinacarrow School Band are also another longstanding entry.
As the I.C.A. celebrates its 100th anniversary the organisation is to put in a special float in this year's Parade.
The prize giving ceremony will take place towards the end of March in the Sligo Park Hotel.
- MICHAEL MORAN
