Parades in Athlone and Moate to mark St Patrick’s Day
It's all systems go for the St Patrick's Day parades in Athlone and Moate on Saturday
The Athlone parade will get underway at 2.15pm, while the Moate parade will start at 5pm.
In Athlone, up to 40 floats are expected to take part in the parade which will be led by two local heroes.
The grand marshal will be local Special Olympics basketballer Heather Dickson, while Scott Lowe will be the mini marshal.
Scott, aged 8, donated bone marrow to his five-year-old cousin Grace, who has been battling leukemia, and has become known as ‘Amazing Grace’.
The duo will lead off the parade which will be centered around the theme of 'World Culture'.
This year the organisers are aiming to keep the parade commercial-free and instead focus on community. The parade will start moving at 2.15pm.
The entertainment line-up on the day will include a Duck Race (11am) and Athlone Boat Club display (11.30am) on the River Shannon; a BMX Stunt Display at the Civic Square (12-2.30pm); live music with local band 40 Watts behind Athlone Castle (1-2pm); and an 'Offaly Wilde Cosplay Characters Meet and Greet' in the Civic Square from 1-2.30pm.
In addition there will be an range of family-friendly entertainment in Burgess Park, including a Kids' Pet Farm and an entertainment tent, in Burgess Park from 12-2pm.
The Athlone parade will start on the west side of town – at the top of Connaught Street.
It will cross over the bridge, proceed through Church Street and Sean Costello Street, before turning down John Broderick Street and finishing at Burgess Park.
Meanwhile, Moate Partnership, together with Moate Action Group/Moate Community Office are working hard to make the parade happen, to again show Moate's 'Pride of Place' spirit.
The parade’s normal starting time has been altered due to the Six Nations Championship rugby game between Ireland and England. The game starts at 2.45pm, so the parade has been moved to a 5pm start.
Anyone who is interested in helping out should phone 090 64 66404.