Chamber President hails 'amazing level of participation' in Longford St Patrick's Day parade
Green was undeniably the colour last Friday as Longford town and its 10,000 plus citizens savoured the return of the annual St Patrick's Day Parade.
All-Ireland Intermediate Club Champions, Longford Slashers Ladies side, took centre stage as the event's grand marshals.
A cavalcade of eye catching and vibrant floats followed as the rain largely stayed away from an occasion that was appreciated by young and old alike.
In the aftermath of those festivities, attention switched to the handing out of over a dozen awards to a host of local prizewinners at PVs.
They included:
Best Overall Entry – Bula Bula Samba Band
Most Colourful Entry – Masinchi Tribe
Best Commercial – Keogh Electrical
Best Public Service – Longford Scuba Divers
Best On-Theme Entry – Knights & Conquests
Best Club/Association – Longford Athletics Club
Youth Endeavour Award – St Michael’s BNS
Best Entertainment – ICA
Best Community Entry – Autism Awareness
Best New Entry – Ukrainian Community
Best Environmental Entry – Tidy Towns
Best School Entry – St Teresa’s, Killoe
Outstanding Service – Cian’s Kennels
Most Innovative – Longford Ploughing.
Chamber of Commerce President Fiona Fenelon saluted the prizewinners and all those who took part in an event which she praised for its level of community spirit.
“The level of participation was amazing,” she said, citing how anywhere between 700 and 1,000 people took part in the parade.
“When you think of all the groups, St Teresa's (National School, Killoe), the Autism group, the Athletics Club, St Michael's Boys (National School) and so many others, it was quite something to see.”
And with thoughts now turning to retrieving all of the bunting and other green decorated paraphernalia from last Friday, preparations for 2024 are already underway.