Giant floats to give facelift to new Clonmel parade
Pictured at the launch of Clonmel's St. Patrick's Day celebrations: Anthony Lawless from Shellikybookie; Brian Cleary, CEO Clonmel Chamber of Commerce; Tara Moriarty, Clonmel Local Heroes; Mayor of Clonmel Darren Ryan; Cllr Joe Leahy; Ger Walsh, Town Clerk. In the background is one of the characters that people can expect to see in this year's parade - the 'teacher' from Pink Floyd's 'The Wall'-inspired float.
Clonmel’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade is undergoing a transformation this year with the inclusion of ten huge floats to heighten the spectacle and create a more carnival-like atmosphere and with increased community involvement, this year’s parade is set to be the best one yet.
‘Dare to dream, make it happen’ is the theme of this year’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations in Clonmel and the festivities were officially launched this week in the workshop and studios of local street performance and art group Shellikybookie, located in the Ard Gaoithe Buisness Park. Shellikybookie, South Tipperary’s superior street performance group, run on a completely voluntary basis, is taking centre stage at this year’s parade and the group is promising to wow spectators with their giant floats and choreographed performances throughout the streets of Clonmel.
For the first time ever the organisation of this year’s annual parade, which takes place on Saturday March 17, has been opened up to local community groups who are assisting the loyal St. Patrick’s Well Committee and Clonmel Borough Council in the organisation of this event, along with the Clonmel Chamber of Commerce, the Association of Clonmel Traders, the newly formed Clonmel Local Heroes group and all the other agencies involved each year in making the parade a safe success. This year’s parade will feature David Power, manager of the Tipperary minor team, as grand marshal. The parade will also have a scaled down commercial focus as participating local businesses as are encouraged to work with a community group to assist them in their participation, as Mayor of Clonmel Darren Ryan explains: “This year no commercial trucks will be allowed to take part in the parade unless they are assisting with the performance of an act or supporting a float. We have no issue at all with commercial businesses taking part, but they must help a local group, in some practical way even, like providing transport for a group in the parade.”
As well as the annual parade, the official St. Patrick’s Day festivities will kick off a few day previous with local historians giving a talk based on the ‘Dare to dream’ theme, in the Town Hall in Clonmel on Thursday March 15 at 8pm, followed by the annual gala dinner which takes place on Friday March 16 at 8pm and which is in aid of the St. Patrick’s Well Committee.
St. Patrick’s Day itself will have an early start with the raising of the National Papal Flags at St. Patrick’s Well, the focal point of the annual celebrations, at 8am. The parade will commence at 3.30pm.
“I would encourage as much community engagement in the parade as possible, and all the groups to incorporate the theme into their acts to create a real carnival atmosphere on the day,” said Mayor Ryan.
The man behind who ‘dared to dream’ and established the wonderfully talented group Shellikybookie last year, Anthony Lawless, said that he is really excited about participating in its first ever St. Patrick’s Day parade in Clonmel. The not-for-profit group is currently working on ten giant floats for the parade, which will amaze the spectators both young and old. They are creating five Shellikybookie originals, as well as five others for local groups including Clonmel World Music, the Sisters of Charity school and the Place4U. It is a massive challenge, and despite a brief concern about a lack of volunteers, the show is back on the road.
“We made an appeal last week for volunteers and we had about 30 people up here so we are back on track for now, but we need people who can commit the whole time, to make it happen, it could be just for an hour or two at a time,” said Mr. Lawless, a self-taught artist and creationist. He is very excited about one aspect of Shellikybookie’s St. Patrick’s Day parade show which is inspired by Pink Floyd’s concept album and feature film ‘The Wall’. In the parade a giant float depicting the ‘teacher’ will be followed by a second float carrying local band The Waheys, who will play live for the duration of the parade. You will just have to come along on the day to witness this creation in all its glory - you will not be disappointed.
Any local groups interested in partaking in the parade should contact PJ Long from the St. Patrick’s Well Committee on pjlong@oceanfree.net. Assistance with props or floats will be provided and admission to the parade is free.
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Saturday 19 May 2012
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