Tullamore St Patrick's Day Parade to mark 40 years

THIS year's St. Patrick's Day Parade in Tullamore will be the 40th anniversary of its foundation in 1983 and the committee are confident that it will be a special occasion.

"This will be a special parade for us this year as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of the farade with the current committee.  I recall our 

first meeting in the front bar of the Bridge House as a small group met with the intention of organising a parade in Tullamore.  Included in that committee were the late Kevin O' Toole, Syl Shelly and Sean Gilligan and we fondly remember them.  From humble beginnings the parade has developed over the years and it is now the biggest parade in the Midlands with 10,000 people viewing it last year," stated Sean O'Brien, parade secretary.

"The parade this year will be on Friday, 17 March starting at 11.30 am from the car park of the Bridge Centre.  The details of the parade will be announced next week and all organisations will be contacted individually.  At this stage we are asking all organisations and businesses to start making preparations for what will be the biggest parade held to date onour 40th anniversary which we hope will be a special occasion," continued Sean O' Brien.

At the recent AGM the following officers were elected.  President, John O' Toole; Chairman, Johnny O' Connor; Vice Chairman, Frankie O' Reilly; Secretary, Sean O' Brien; Assistant Secretary, Yvonne Kerry; Treasurer, Martin O' Connor; Assistant Treasurer, Catherine Galvin; Social Media Co-Ordinator, Ciara Kinnarney; Review Stand Manager, Enda Mollen; Schools Co-Ordinator, Jenny O' Connor; Committee members, John Plunkett, Michael Plunkett and John McKeigue.  Parade contact number, Sean O'Brien 086 3892854