Organiser on key change that led to 'best' Longford St Patrick's Day parade 'in years'

The Longford town parade was a huge success this year with at least 5,000 people in attendance and a 'good budget' in comparison to previous years helping to ensure it surpassed expectations.

Event organiser Lisa Brady said she is 'extremely happy' with how the afternoon unfolded with 60 floats and 15 prize winners in 15 different categories.

Longford Pony Club won the best overall entry, which was sponsored by Longford Chamber of Commerce.

"They won the overall prize, and they were a new entry also, which was really cool.

"They had a lovely float where the kids were jumping over fences and stuff and again, they were one that we did give some assistance to for their floats.

"It was definitely the best parade that I've seen in years as regards content and community involvement, club association."

Lisa said there was a lot more community involvement and a lot more from around the county.

"We had a lot of new entries this year, which was really great to see and we had a budget this year, which was in comparison to other years, which was a good budget.

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"And it meant that I was able to offer people around the county assistance in making their entries."

Lisa explained the budget at their disposal meant they had artists working on various entries for about the past month.

"It made an incredible difference that you have something where you can offer people assistance in workshops for schools or clubs, associations.

"And also that you can, you know, give them help, the artists will help give them ideas or some inspiration."

Lisa said there have been trying to estimate the crowd that attended the Longford town parade and it was a sizeable number.

"I remember years where there was estimates of 7,000, but I'd say there was definitely five thousand."

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Lisa said there was lots of volunteers who generously gave up their time and offered valuable support.

"There was people there from the LEO (Longford Enterprise Office), the LEO were the lead in the organisation and I worked with them to organise the parade.

"But then you had council employees who volunteered on the day, you had Longford Volunteer Centre and you had volunteers from the Chamber of Commerce.

"You know, you have, you have these people who volunteer continuously with things like, you know

The Longford Agricultural Show and the St Patrick's Day parade and they just offer their time and, you know, you don't even have to brief them sometimes," she added.

The other winners on the day included Nmasinachi Women Association OTU NDI IGBO Longford who won the  'Best International Entry' sponsored by Keogh Electrical.

Eco Shedness took the top prize in the 'Best Commercial' category sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, while Lus Na Greinne won the top honours in the 'Best Public Service' section.

Feroige / Attic House / Leap won the 'Best on Theme' category and Clonguish GAA claimed the top prize in the 'Best Club-Association category.

Chairperson of Longford TidyTowns Michael Keenan was the Grand Marshal for the 2026 Longford Town St Patrick’s Day parade.

He described it as being a lovely occasion.

"I was really pleased. I think, in effect, the thing that pleased me most was the recognition of Longford Tidy Towns because there's a bunch of volunteers there and none of them are out just yet.

"Not only in that parade float of Tidy Towns, but also some of them out helping out with stewarding in the parade.

"So yes, it was very nice, a great honour, not just for myself, but also for the team involved.

"There was some very nice floats and I suppose one of the nicer things was the fact that the weather held up, so people didn't have to run away."

Other prize winners included Grasshopper Dance won the Youth Endeavour Award sponsored by the Longford Leader.

Lisbrack CCE triumphed in the 'Best Entertainment' section, while Killoe Men's Shed took the top prize in the Best Community category.

Ballinamuck Faroige won the Best New Entry category, while Longford Tidy Towns won the 'Best Environmental' entry and St. Michael's BNS claimed the Best School entry.

County Longford Scuba Divers took the top prize in the 'Outstanding Service' category, while the Pony Club was chosen as the 'Most Innovative' entry and Feroige / Attic House / Leap won the 'Spirit of St Patrick's Day' award.