Snakes, turf and the housing crisis feature in Kilcormac St Patrick's Day Parade

SNAKES, turf and the housing crisis featured in this year's St Patrick's Day Parade in Kilcormac.
The 42nd iteration of the annual event was inventive, imaginative, creative and a massive credit to all involved.
Over the years the town's St Patrick's Day Parade has gained an enviable tradition for being a great event, which the community throws their whole heart into and which produces floats of the very highest standard. This year was no different, with a number of outstanding floats taking part.
There were many participants, including vintage cars, vintage tractors, local sports clubs, a bagpiper, various local organisations, children in fancy dress, line dancers, displays of antiques from early 20th century Ireland, magnificent looking motorbikes, a donkey, cartloads of turf, and much more. It showed what a vibrant and positive place Kilcormac and the wider West Offaly area is. Great numbers of spectators turned out to watch the event and there was a clear sense that they were really enjoying themselves.
The annual Parade stands out from other Parades in Offaly because it's not afraid to tackle controversial topics. This year they tackled the Bord Bia/IFA stand-off with a float showing a tug of war contest. On one side were the protesting farmers, on the other three politicians (Micheál Martin, Simon Harris and Martin Heydon). The farmers won the tug of war and triumphantly threw the politicians into a haystack.
Donald Trump also made an appearance, emerging from a vintage car and showing a candle to the crowds. The implication was obvious and echoed what many of us are secretly wondering – faced by the cost of living crisis and rising fuel prices will we have to start using more candles?
A wonderful entry by the Flynn family tackled the neverending Housing Crisis. In front of the viewing stand the Flynns assembled a replica house, impressing everyone with their carpentry skills. Their replica house was a symbol of their deep admiration for the skill and hard work of tradespeople in the building industry, as well as being a symbol of their desire to see a more enlightened housing system serving the people of Ireland, rather than the present system which is failing us.
Turf remains a vital part of people's lives in Offaly because it remains a cheap form of fuel during a cost of living crisis. This love for turf was on display during Tuesday's Parade in the form of a number of turf carts, one of which had a sign saying “No oil, no problem. Turf 2026 saved.” Again the message was obvious – faced with fuel poverty many people, in desperation, turn to turf.
St Patrick and his snakes were represented in a great entry featuring 32 children who were holding a number of snake banners, accompanied by a giant snake. Behind them came St Patrick, played by a boy. It being a cold afternoon the MC Paddy Buckley sympathised with him. “St Patrick looks like he's freezing! You're not the only one!”
The Judges said after the Parade that they were very impressed with the standard of entries. The Judges were John Kelly, Birr publican and Birr Vintage Week and Arts Festival member, and Frances Walsh, Offaly Community Volunteer Programme Co-ordinator. Frances, who had also been a Judge at the Tullamore Parade earlier in the day, brought with her four volunteers who helped out with the Kilcormac event.
Sinead Barron of the Kilcormac Parade committee congratulated everyone who took part in the Parade, “especially to our winners. Our parade would not be a success without your participation and exceptional ideas and energy. See you all in 2027.”
The results of the Parade were as follows:
Overall Winner: The Housing Crisis.
Exceptional Entry: Ballyblues.
Best Schools Entry: St Kieran's NS Broughal.
Fancy Dress 1st Prize: Sadie's Ark.
Fancy Dress 2nd Prize: Kenny Kavanagh and Ollie Sadler (Donald Trump).
Best Vintage Entry: Day on the Bog (which featured a spade used to dig trenches in Crinkle Barracks at the turn of the 20th century).
Judges Special Choice: Ballyboy CCE.
Best Group Display: Camcor Riders.
Most Original Entry: Newton Plant Hire.
The Ballyblues entry was a huge effort by the Ballyboy community. The title for the entry was “Building our Hall the Smurfy way”. “Welcome to the Ballyblues,” said their entry form, “where Ballyboy has turned blue and gone full Smurf to tell the story of our community coming together to build our new hall. At the back of our float you'll see our future – a red mushroom hall under construction. At the front, the heart of our village – Dan & Molly's – bringing people together. And flowing through it all, a river reminding us to keep moving forward. Of course every journey has its challenges...Gargarnel is here, trying to stop progress and cage our Smurfs – just like the obstacles we've faced – but we won't be held back! In Ballyboy we believe “It's not who we are...it's who we are together.” Let's hope that after years of waiting, the construction of the village's badly needed new hall will finally get underway.
The theme for the St Kieran's National School Broughal float was “Bee kind – let Nature thrive.” The St Kieran's float wanted to remind everyone how important it is to care for the natural world. “Our float is filled with colourful flowers,” their entry form said, “creating a garden for bees and butterflies to pollinate, showing how these tiny creatures help nature grow and stay healthy. You'll also see beekeepers caring for the bees and collecting the honey they make – a sweet and healthy gift from nature. Our message is simple: when we protect biodiversity and look after nature, it thrives – and so do we. Bee kind and protect our pollinators!”
Sadie Flynn created “Sadie's Ark.” “Aboard Sadie's Ark,” she wrote, “the girls sail as symbols of hope and renewal. Just as the Ark carried life through the storm, they remind us that after every rainfall comes the chance to begin again. With kindness in their hearts and imagination leading the way, they represent a future where compassion guides us and a gentler, more caring world can grow.”