Thirteen parades to take place across County Cavan this Sunday

Jack Walsh

Are there more parades on St Patrick's Day in County Cavan than in any other county in Ireland? At 13, it's certainly possible! Log on to The Anglo-Celt website from 12.30pm where the parade will be streamed live by Cavan TV. In the meantime, here's a roundup of the parades...

Cavan Town
The parade will begin at 12.30 in the Tesco carpark. Between 70 and 80 floats will make up the parade for this year. No specific theme has been set for this year, though there is a prize for the most imaginative float entered by a national school. There will be musicians on the street all day including traditional bands. Four-time Paul Brady, a world handball champion, will be a part of the event. There will be prizes including one for best float. In terms of last year, Michael Mooney, chairman of the St Patrick’s Day Parade committee, promised that the parade will be “bigger and more colourful and everyone has been putting in great effort into their floats and so we do hope that continues”.

Killeshandra
Over the past number of years, the parade in Killeshandra on St Patrick’s Day has been a great success for the community. It is an exciting and entertaining day for young and old and draws many visitors to the town. The committee is working hard to make this year’s parade better than ever. The parade will take off from the Ballyconnell road at 12.30pm, with entries taken on the day from 11.30am. There will be numerous prizes totalling over €1000.

Kingscourt
The St Patrick’s Day Parade is organised each year by Kingscourt Community Development, and this year’s promises to be the best yet! It will be streamed live from 12.45-2pm all over the world by webcam, it will be available on www.themarketsquare.com and will remain on the website for up to three weeks. It starts at 1pm from the Dublin Road and floats clubs, organisations or anyone taking part in this year’s parade are advised to be at the assembly area after noon. Late-comers are likely to find that the parade has started and they are likely to be slotted into the rear of the procession.
Parking places will be available at designated locations in the town areas, there will also be parking restrictions in some areas along the parade route. With four marching bands taking part in the parade, there will also be other musical groups and Irish dancers performing in various areas of the town. Residents and traders are encouraged to display a flag on their premises or residence in celebration of St Patrick’s Day.

Bailieborough
New attractions to the parade include: Carnival stilt walkers, street performers, jugglers, mini-American roadster, Penny Farthing, unicyclists and fire eaters! Mickey and Mini Mouse will also visit the parade this year to say hello to all the boys and girls. The parade will start at 2pm. Music and entertainment will be provided from 1pm. Entry is free on the day and everyone is welcome. There will be prizes galore for best dressed shop window, best comedy float, best industrial float and lots more.

Arva
The parade will commence at 3pm with traditional music and song on the market square from 2.30pm. The theme for 2013 is “The Gathering on the move”. The parade will be led by the Howard Memorial Pipe Band with prizes up for grabs for the best Topical, Novelty and Comical floats. A plaque is also available for the best dressed window on the day.

Ballyconnell parade
The parade will begin at 3pm with a fun day promised for all the family. Up to fifty floats are expected to take part this year, with the full support of the community and local businesses. A new feature for this year is a platform on the Market Square to get a better view of the parade, and the entertainment on the day will include the Kildallan dancers, a samba band and the Milltown Comhaltas band.

Cootehill
The 28th annual St Patrick’s Day parade will commence in Cootehill at 3pm with music provided by Cavan Rugby Choir and guest of honour, Michelle Cunningham, who recently appeared on RTE’s 'The Voice of Ireland’ performing on the day. The parade will start at the Old Credit Union on Bridge Street and move down Market Street past the Review Stand and down Chapel Lane. Participants in the parade are asked to assemble at the Old Credit Union Bridge Street at 2pm. St Patrick’s Day is a family day in Cootehill and all families and children are most welcome to come and enjoy the parade with a variety of floats, marching bands and entertainment confirmed.
Additional entries are still being accepted and anyone interested in participating in the parade are asked to contact any Chamber member or Don on 087-2516849 or Elaine on 087-9124893.

Kilnaleck
The parade will also begin at 3pm at the Ball Alley on the Ballinagh Road. The organising committee has repeated its invitation to all traders and semi-traders to put a float, big or small, long or short into the parade. The more the merrier.

Ballyjamesduff
The Parade will be held in Ballyjamesduff starting at 4pm from the mart on the Granard Road. Lots of entertainment is promised for all the family. Anyone wishing to help out, please meet at square at 10.30am.

Blacklion
The cross-border Blacklion/Belcoo parade is set to take place on the unapproved road at 4pm.
Up to 50-60 floats are expected to be a part of the parade, with music from Sean McAloon, Janzers and traditional Irish music as well. Celebrity chef Nevin Maguire is also set to be in attendance at the only cross border Parade in the country.

Swanlinbar
The parade will begin at 4pm. All floats to assemble on Creamery Road from 3.30pm. Prizes for best floats. Stewards are asked to please arrive at 2.30pm. Road will be closed from 4pm at Creamery Road to Day Centre until the parade is over.

Ballinagh
The annual parade led by the Howards Memorial Pipe Band will commence at 4.30pm. There is great interest in the event with many business premises sponsoring prizes.
All musicians welcome and clubs, organisations and business proprietors are asked to enter floats in what promises to be the biggest parade to date. Afterwards tea will be served by the Women’s Group in the community centre with everyone welcome.

Mullagh
The Mullagh Tourism & Community Development Committee are putting the final touches to this year’s parade, which kicks off at 5pm on St Patrick’s Day. This year the committee is offering a prize of €200 to the best and most entertaining local community float in the parade. To ensure the safe and smooth running of this year’s parade, the committee is appealing to all members of the community to help steward this year’s event. Stewards are asked to assemble at the viewing stand at 4.30pm for high-vis jackets and instructions. For further information, you may contact a committee member on 087-7466606.

Ballinamore
Ballinamore presents its new and improved St Patrick’s Day Parade, which will begin at 4pm.
Prizes include: Best Window Display, Best Dressed Spectator, Best on Foot, Best Float, Most Humorous and Overall. The assembly point will be the Tesco carpark at 3.30pm.
Refreshments for children at courthouse after the parade, followed by the annual Scouts Family Fun Day in the community centre.