Ambitious plans announced for Athlone St Patrick's Day parade

Details of an ambitious series of events to mark St Patrick's Day in Athlone have been announced.

The St Patrick's Day parade committee this year has focused its attention on providing an expanded range of activities and entertainment throughout the day – as well as expanding the traditional parade.

At the first launch of a parade in recent times, in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel last Wednesday, chairperson Caoimhe O'Connell outlined some of the events taking place.

“It's going to be more like a festival than just a parade,” she told the Westmeath Independent.

Already confirmed are a BMX stunt bike display, a series of buskers, two live band performances from the parade grandstand, a number of dancing displays and a duck race amongst other events.

The parade committee launched a crowdfunding appeal via its 'Go Fund Me' page earlier this year.

To date, that campaign has yielded €5,910 in funding from local businesses, public figures and individuals.

And the parade has confirmed it has also secured €5,000 in funding from Westmeath County Council.

The parade itself will start at 2.30pm this year and - in a reverse of the usual route - it will travel from west to east, starting at the Shamrock Lodge Hotel and ending at the Diskin Centre in Golden Island.

The parade route will be through Connaught Street, O'Connell Street, Main Street and Castle Street before crossing the bridge.

On the east side of the river, it will continue down Church Street and Irishtown, through St Patrick's Terrace, before reaching the roundabout at the start of the Dublin Road and turning down to the Diskin Centre.

An increased number of community clubs and organisations have entered the parade already and the committee is keen to stress that the involvement of the community remains the key focus of the parade.

In addition this year, it is working with Buibolg Productions to introduce new and exciting floats to the parade.

There will be live performances from 40 Watts before the parade from the grandstand on Church Street followed by a special concert by 'Weekend Celebrity', the US-based band which features Athlone native Donna McCaul.

Before the parade, there will be BMX and stunt bike displays by Thunder Action Sports in the Civic Square whilst local dance school, Conway Byrne Irish Dance Academy will be showcasing their talents outside and inside Athlone Towncentre prior to the parade.

The members of Attitude Dance will also be strutting their stuff in front of Dunnes Stores in Irishtown before the parade.

Children from Right Start Montessori will be performing before the parade along with the choir from St Mary's Primary School and there will be a karaoke corner beside Supermac's in Irishtown.

To ensure the participants are also entertained, there will be music, puppets and treats at the Shamrock Lodge before the start of the parade.

A special duck race will also be held in conjunction with Athlone Boat Club after the parade.

Ms O'Connell paid a special tribute to all who had financially contributed to this year's festivities, particularly main sponsors Westmeath County Council and major sponsors Custom Cuts, Kin Khao Thai restaurant, Supermac's, Deputy Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, Shannon Academy and Midlands Business Network.

“We were really amazed by the support from the community as well,” she said, referencing lots of donations from €5 to €500 from members of the public.

She also thanked the members of the hard-working committee behind this year's plans.