St. Patrick's Day Parade Galway 2005

St. Patrick's Day Parade Galway 2005

Galway.net , 28 February 2005

An exploding Croagh Patrick, a fifth century raiding pirate ship, an American War of Independence Historic Militia Group and Gaelic speaking pipers from the Scottish Isle of Lewis - just a sampling of the highlights in store for this year's St. Patrick's Day Parade in Galway City!

Fifty groups will take part in what promises to be one of Ireland's best parades. For the second year running it will start at the Fire Station on Fr. Griffin Road at 12.30pm on the 17th of March, and move through Dominick Street, over O'Brien's Bridge, through Shop Street, down Eglinton Street, ending up in front of the reviewing stand in Woodquay.

The themed part of this year's parade will tell both the story of St. Patrick and that of the holy and mystical mountain that bears his name - Croagh Patrick. This part of the parade will be directed by Diarmuid de Faoite and he believes there is something special in store for the people of Galway: "Its going to be very loud, very colourful and very funny", says de Faoite, "it'll have pigs, pirate ships, bible bashing evangelists, gold prospectors and an exploding Croagh Patrick to top it all off! It should be a great spectacle for all the family!"

De Faoite will have no shortage of bodies to call upon in telling the great man's story. The Galway Youth Theatre, Na Crosain/Dordain (from Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe), Colaiste Cholmcille, Fibin and the Galway School of Performing Arts, to name a few will take part to make this the largest themed section so far. Interestingly, Gaeilge, is the working language used by most of these groups!

Macnas will also have a huge part to play in this year's parade. Parades throughout the country nowadays are styling themselves on the model made famous by Macnas. This year, in an unusual twist Ireland's premiere performance arts company will mimic the traditional style of a country town parade! The parade will also receive a shot of colour and music from other local groups such as Galway Circus Project, Mike Arrigan's Drummers, St. Patrick's Brass Band, Flock Dance Company and many many more!

Visiting groups include the Ancient and Honourable Artillery Company of Massachusetts! This group is the oldest militia unit in the United States, formed originally as the Ancient and Honourable Artillery Company of London in 1638. Although the company started as an English colonial militia unit it soon drew its membership largely from Irish immigrants, including the late Jack Kennedy, and most of the members attending this year's parade will be of Irish ancestry. They will be joined by the Kentish Guards Fife and Drum Corps - who provided the marching music for the militia group!

Visiting also will be the Isle of Lewis Pipe Band. The Isle of Lewis, or Oilean Leodhais, on the northwest coast of Scotland is a Gaelic speaking area and so the ties with the west of Ireland are clearly evident. Another visiting group with strong ties will be Bugale Cercle from Lorient. Galway and Lorient have recently revived twinning activities between both cities and this is the third successive year that a dance group from Lorient has participated in the Galway City St. Patrick's Day Parade.

All the ingrediants are in place for a wonderful occasion yet again this year. Any group that still wishes to participate should contact breandan@galwaycity.ie or call (091 536829 as soon as possible!

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