Bands, circus and fun at this year's St Patrick's parade in Clara

They are pulling out all the stops for this year's St Patrick's Day parade in Clara.

4 bands from Mullingar, Castlerea, Portlaoise and of course Clara Town Band are all set to take part. Meanwhile, the national anthem will be sung by Paddy Bracken.

Parade Marshals will be long term actors with the Christmas and St Patrick's Day Parades, John Lowe and Nollaig Fitzpatrick.

A new addition this year and one which promises to be highly entertaining and colourful is the addition of the Corvenieo Circus who will march in the parade and afterwards put on a performance in the Square.

The event kicks off in the Square at 11.30am with music and dancing from the James Kinsella Ceili Band, The Rahan CCE Dancers, Durrow, Conroy Dancers, and the dancing Parish Priest Fr Joe Deegan along with the Christian Concannon Youth Dancers. Damien Scally and Clara's answer to BigTom, PJ Quaide will also be there. MC for the concert and parade is Barry Flynn, assisted by his sons Adam and Aaron.

The four schools along with their principals will cut the ribbon to get things underway, Scoil Phroinsias Naofa, Scoil Bhride, Ard Scoil Chiarain Naofa and Horseleap National School. The four school principals will cut the ribbon and will receive presentations afterwards.

Organiser Bertie McMahon thanked his team of helpers, Clara and Tullamore Gardai, Celcus Doolan, Ollie O'Connor, Martin O'Connor, Mark Purcell, Kevin Roe, Des Dunne. The Flynn Family, Andy Cunningham, Clara Community and Family Resource Centre, Ricey Scully, Micheal O'Connor, Donald O'Connor, Gordon Healy and Sons, Eamon Cunningham and all who helped in any way.