Spring parade in Belturbet

The innovative people of Belturbet have sprung into action by organising a Spring Parade and family entertainment day for Sunday, which of course is Easter Sunday. The business people and townspeople in general put their collective heads together with a view to bringing a "feel good factor" back to the town and cast aside the negative talk about the recession. The town has been in existence for 400 years and this event is designed to kick start the celebrations. Publican Brendan Fay from the Widows Bar told The Anglo-Celt that he tossed a few ideas around in his head and they decided at a recent traders meeting that they would try something different, in view of the fact that the town does not feature a St Patrick's day parade. After tossing around a number of formats, it was eventually decided that Easter Sunday would be an ideal day to launch the inaugural 'Spring Parade' in the town. Two monster Easter Eggs, standing three feet tall have been flown in specially for the occasion, courtesy of Enzo Marcello, who runs the local fast food outlet in the town. Brendan Fay says one of the eggs will be raffled on the day and the second one will be a surprise for all the children attending the fun events on the day, which commence at 3pm. The parade will commence at 5pm. The parade will feature numerous marching bands and there will be lots of community and business floats, which will draw on creativity and visuals. Another businessman in the town who was active it getting the initiative off the ground was Ray Slaughter from the Ducking Stool pub and he was most impressed with the overwhelming response from a broad spectrum of people. People from outside the area have also taken a definite interest in the event and many have expressed their intention to come into the town on the day with their families. He is confident that the town can build on this inaugural Spring Parade and fun day and make it a real highlight in the years ahead. "The young ones will be off from school and people don't have to go to work on the Monday. There are also lots of tourists coming in for the fun day." He says the news that the town is now getting a by-pass has lifted morale and "we want to push the idea that there are brighter days ahead and promote tourism". Two new business people in the town are Eugene and Angela Duffy from the Gala shop on the Diamond. They said it was great to get an initiative going to bring people back into the town and build up a great community spirit. "The only way is to look forward and let everyone do the best they can for the area - if everyone does a little, it will make a big difference," said the Duffys. Another new business man in the town is Colm O'Sullivan from the filling station and shop at Kilconny. He said it was important to move on from the doom and gloom and give the town a positive impetus. "It is important for the business people to give something back to the people of the area, who are keeping us in business. This event is a way of saying thanks for your support of the town."