Parades a-plenty in Offaly this weekend

Offalians are spoilt for choice when it comes to St Patrick's Day parades this year, with most of the county's major towns pulling out all the stops. Highlights will include a parade in Offaly's county town of Tullamore that boasts as a theme 'Community Arts Centre for Tullamore', Edenderry's first ever parade (led by Operation Transformation leader Adrian Brereton), a two day festival in Clara and Banagher's parade and festival cruise. Unsurprisingly, St Patrick's Day itself - Saturday, March 17 - is the chosen parade date for most organising committees in the county. The early birds of Offaly are in Mount Bolus, with their parade beginning at 11.15am. Resident and Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council Danny Owens said he's disappointed to miss this local parade, even though he'll be at a parade in New York as part of his official council duties. Tullamore's parade begins on Saturday morning just slightly later than Mount Bolus at 11.30am with entertainment supplied for crowds from 10.45am. Special guests at this parade will be the Tullamore Tractor Run committee, which has raised an impressive €100,000 for the oncology unit at Tullamore hospital. The colourful town parade will work its way from High Street through the town before finishing up past the Kilbeggan bridge. Highlights will include the Tullamore Brass Band, St Colmcille's pipe band, Mullingar Brass Band and longtime favourites vintage American cars. Clara has decided to make a weekend of it this year with a two day St Patrick's festival. The highlight of the festival, the parade, will take place in the town from 12.30 on Saturday. The parade will be opened by Michael Sheridan from Clara GAA Club, Joe Stanley from Clara Soccer Club and Clara's longest serving postman Jimmy Flattery. Family entertainment will be available on both Saturday and Sunday, with music, aqua-sphering and a tug-o-war all featuring. Edenderry will proudly host its first St Patrick's Day parade in 2012, and excitement has been building locally all week. A parade information centre has been open all week on JKL Street and a public address system has been making regular announcements about Saturday's parade. The parade itself commences at 2.30pm outside Ofalia House, before working its way down the town to finish at Mangan's. Bands and theatre groups including stilt walkers and cartoon characters will be on hand for the duration on JKL Street to entertain crowds as they wait for the parade of almost 50 floats. The parade is to be led by local celebrity Adrian Brereton and will feature the Heineken Cup, the Dowling Cup and the Leinster Senior Colleges Trophy that was won recently by St Mary's Secondary School. Music will follow the parade, as well as a barbecue at Brady's and a pig on a spit at Dempsey's. Kilcormac will get its St Patrick's Day festivities started at 3.30pm on March 17. With no entry fee, organisers are encouraging all who would like to take part in the parade to turn up on the day. Prizes will be given for the best group display, the best vintage vehicle, the most original float and for both adult and children's fancy dress. Highlights will also be put up on the parade's Facebook page throughout the day in the form of photos and videos. Banagher has chosen to hold off until Sunday, March 18, to celebrate St Patrick's Day. The boating club will hold its fourth annual festival cruise from 12.30 until 1.30, before the parade itself kicks off at 3pm. Meanwhile in Moneygall there is to be no parade, but locals Henry Healy and Ollie Hayes will celebrate for the town in New York and Washington. The two left Ireland for America on Thursday, with plans to spend time at the New York St Patrick's Day parade as well as some time at the White House the following Tuesday. Henry will then go on to Boston for the Irish Film Festival, which will include a showing of 'The Road to Moneygall'. Plans are also afoot back in Moneygall for American Independence Day celebrations on the weekend of July 6-8.