Big crowds attend fantastic St Patrick's Day Parade in Kilcormac

Three years after its last showing, huge crowds attended a fantastic St Patrick's Day Parade in Kilcormac on last week.
After two years of Covid and incredibly severe restrictions it was wonderful to see this excellent event returning to our lives and a sense of normality.
The crowds loved the parade and enthusiastically responded to the various entries.
Kilcormac's St Patrick's Parade is well known for featuring floats with a political, slightly edgy flavour and this year didn't disappoint with Boris Johnson coming in for a bit of slagging because of his alleged partying antics during a time when everyone was meant to be locked down. Eamon Ryan's suggestion that households buy candles in order to save energy costs also came under fire.
Covid was referenced by participants several times, with a number of tributes being paid to frontline workers.
The parade began with the St Brigid's Mountbolus Pipe Band performing The Minstrel Boy, an appropriate choice as war now rages in Europe once again - "The minstrel boy to the war is gone. In the ranks of death you'll find him."
"We are a long time waiting for this," said MC Paddy Buckley, as the band proceeded along Main Street at the head of the parade. "It's three years since our last one...Well done to the great Peter Ryan and the St Brigid's Mountbolus Pipe Band."

Next came the first float, created by Kilcormac Community Childcare, a group which has 18 staff and a hundred children. "The group has very exciting plans for the future," said Paddy.
The teachers and students of Scoil Mhuire agus Cormac Kilcormac were next, dressed in superhero uniforms. "Not all superheroes wear capes" was their theme, a tribute to the selfless, wonderful work of frontline staff during the Pandemic. They carried rainbows symbolising hope, light and a new beginning.
Third in line was Kilcormac Killoughey Camogie Club, which has 200 members of all ages. This is a club which has enjoyed great success and its players display skill and determination. "Sadly," the club said, "we lost Ashling Murphy, a fellow player and teammate, in January; and we remember her today."
Behind them came the following:
Kilcormac / Killoughey GAA Club. "They have given us many great days over the last 15 years. They are a credit to Offaly and Kilcormac...The grassroots are what the GAA is all about...The club has 350 members. The future is bright, believe me."
Mark Sadler, who won a gold in the Special Olympics in Abu Dhabi.
Pat O'Brien, dressed as St Patrick while cycling a hundred year old butcher's bike.
Thomas Russell, "the man from God knows where".
Dickie Dooley and his four dummies.
"The Frontline Workers" - "We have all been very grateful to the frontline workers who kept us safe during the Pandemic."
"Priority Transport" - Loughlin Fletcher - "The Price of diesel".
Patrick Kenny driving a 1996 volkswagen scirocco, with all its original parts. "A smashing looking vehicle!" exclaimed Paddy.
A beautiful looking 1958 Massey Ferguson, driven by John Kenny, a member of the Vintage Club.
Ross Hathaway driving a striking looking 1972 Citroen HY van which was originally used to transport sheep and goats to the markets in southern France.
Michael Quirke from Lorrha driving a 1978 landrover.
Hugo Loonam from Cloghan driving a 1972 Citroen DS - "A gorgeous car. Hugo is a great supporter of the local community and has been running a very successful business for many years."
The "wonderful" Camcor Riders on their harley davidsons. "They have raised a lot of money for charity over the years...Sadly they are missing Dermot from Kilcormac..."
Seán Flanagan on a motorbike. His theme - "Back to work after Covid".
Eoin Hynes on a 1986 Fiat Tractor, a vehicle which was "shook, like all farmers."
Joe Sheils on a 1967 Ford 2000 tractor. "Joe has been with us in the parades for many years," commented Paddy.
Patrick Sheils driving a 1978 massey ferguson tractor which was pulling a 1936 tractor.
John Lee on a massey ferguson.
Ray Larkin from Rahan, promoting Mental Health Awareness.
Eamon Brennan from Lecarrow, Roscommon with a 132 year old plough and a two hundred year old farm implement. Eamon was a member of St John's Lecarrow Vintage Club.
Jimmy Doran was also a member of St John's Lecarrow Vintage Club. His entry was "The Old Shebeen”, which featured tilley lamps, churnes, glasses, etc.
Niall Camon in his four wheel drive.
Michael Camon driving a 1984 Ford Cortina.
Justin Buckley, Ger Nevin and Liam Grimes on their old bikes.
Joe Clancy on a beautiful, blue tractor. "Joe has been with us for a long number of years."
Adam Fletcher from Ferbane on a 1950 massey ferguson.
Kieran Kenny on a 1959 tractor.
Other tractor drivers included Stephen Harrington, Michael Keegan and Joe Cleary.
Cormac and Martin on their 1949 Ferguson 20 tractor pulling a trailer of turf.
The Kenny family with their car with a giant St Patrick's Day hat on its roof.
Ann Killeen driving a yellow 1973 Ford Cortina.
Matty Loonam in a 1967 Ford Anglia car.
Joe McRedmond in a peugeot 504, one of the early diesel cars. "Joe has been with us every year for many years."
A float by Ballyboy Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, performing ceili band music and dancing. "Thanks to Joe Daly for looking after us. Keep her lit!"
Another musical float - "Amhráin, Bodhrain and amadáin" by the "wonderful Egan family from Fivealley. They have played music for a number of generations."
A float by Newton Plant Hire, called "Number 10 Downing Street - Boris' Lockdown Party"..."There's an off licence beside Number 10 in case you get thirsty during work....Boris buys a lot of booze and hides it in his suitcase...Bring your own booze...The best parties are the ones you don't remember...We had a lads in Irish politics who used to suffer from loss of memory as well."
James Mahon driving a Fiat 110 tractor. "Our beloved hardworking tractor since 1998."
A float sponsored by Kevin Bracken, about the Suez Canal obstruction incident involving a giant Evergreen vessel. In March 2021 the Suez Canal was blocked for six days by this vessel and it took an enormous effort to release it.
A float by the Ballyboy Tidy Towns Community Development Group - "Goodbye to the antis and hello to the future - the antis are being driven out of the village: antigen, antiviral and anti-covid are being driven out of the village...There's Aunty Covid, in drag, getting tested...meanwhile the Busy Bees are rebuilding after the easing of restrictions and are looking forward to a better future..."
Offaly Search & Recovery Diving Team - "You can following their activities on their Facebook page. They are all volunteers."
Jason Charles and his family - this entry focussed on Offaly after the end of peat harvesting, an Offaly of green energy and wind power. "It is an ill wind that blows nobody any good."
Tiger King and Judy Leonard battling it out for King of the zoo. Let the fight begin!
A float called "Political Madness" featuring James Doyle and others commenting on the transition to green energy and the political tensions it creates. The float also commented on the pressure people are feeling because of rising living costs. "On the left are Leo and Eamon with their lettuce leaves and candles. On the right are Healy Raes with their turf."
When the parade finished Paddy said it had been a fantastic experience and he congratulated everyone that took part. "The entries were great, and there were a lot of them. It was amazing to see, a great display of community spirit."
Paddy said the first Kilcormac St Patrick's Day parade was 39 years ago, in 1983; "but it's only our 36th parade because we missed a year to Foot & Mouth, and two years to Covid."