RTE to visit local parades
The weather forecast isn't too promising but the organisers of Offaly's St Patrick's Day parades are hopeful that big crowds will still turn out this weekend.
In Edenderry, motorbike racer Kevin Keyes has been given the honour of being the Grand Marshal at this year's parade.
After fears that the parade would not go ahead this year, the organisers issued a plea on Facebook looking for volunteers and the good people of Edenderry answered the call.
“We are absolutely flying. We have about 42 floats confirmed to take part,” committee member Shane Loughlin told the Offaly Independent.
Mr Loughlin said that while it was “touch and go” whether this year's parade would go ahead, he has been heartened by the support and enthusiasm of the people of Edenderry and the business community.
The parade is set to get underway at 2.30pm and a traffic management plan starting at 12.30pm has been put in place. For more information on the traffic plan or the parade, visit the Facebook page, Edenderry Parade.
The Banagher St Patrick's Parade, which takes place on Sunday, was another that looked as if it wouldn't be going this year.
It took the intervention of a group of local mothers to save the event. In a few short weeks the small committee has put together an impressive programme that centres around the parade, which gets underway at 3pm, with registration from 2pm.
There will also be open air live music before and after the parade with performances from a number of local artists including Colin Kelly and Lucid Blue. The old committee from previous parades have the honour of leading this year's event.
"Everyone has been so supportive from local businesses to the old committee," organising committee member Louise Pearl says.
Over in Kilcormac the St Patrick's Day Parade gets underway at 1.30pm. Over 60 floats are expected to take part in the parade, which organisers are billing it as the “only traditional parade in the midlands”.
The organisers have also put a call out on Facebook for volunteers to help get things set up for the parade. Anyone interested is asked to meet in the Square at 8am on Saturday morning.
One of the earliest St Patrick's Day parades in the country is taking place in Rhode, where proceedings get underway at 10am.
The Iron Man from Rhode, GAA legend Paddy McCormack, is the Grand Marshal at this year's parade and to add to the excitement an RTE crew will be visiting to film the parade for Saturday evening's News.
And in Clara, This year's St Patrick's Day parade will start at Charlestown Bridge on March 17 at 12.30pm. Clara's Queen of the Parade will be Kirsty Real and her little angel, Isabelle. There will be a concert in The Square at 11.30am and will feature music and dancing by a variety groups and individuals.