St. Patricks Weekend in Tipperary!
Excitement is building in the Premier County for St Patrick’s Day, with parades and festivities planned for all the major towns around Tipperary.
Some stand out ideas this year include a big screen in Templemore where those living away from home can send best wishes to their loved ones on the day, and a US marching band will take pride of place in Tipperary Town.
Major road diversions have been announced for Clonmel, while this year, Cashel has opted for a celebration on the Plaza, instead of the traditional parade.
Tipperary Town
In Tipperary Town, the members of the CJ Kickham Brass and Reed Band take great pleasure in extending a warm, Tipperary fáilte to the University of Missouri Marching Mizzou band as they visit the town on Saturday, March 16.
The usual parade is starting at 11am from the Plan Bandstand on Church Street. Missouri Marching Band are leaving from Supermacs at about 11.45am and are marching to Main Street. There will be a short performance on Main Street, and they then march to the Canon Hayes Sports Centre.
The Marching Muzzou are going after the parade as they are a 300-strong band with cheerleaders. Members of the public can expect delays and please follow the directions of Gardaí and Stewards.
Known for their musical prowess and captivating performances, the CJ Kickham Band is “beyond excited to welcome our American colleagues to our band hall and our town,” said a spokesperson. “As a local band dedicated to fostering the musical and cultural traditions of Tipperary Town and its surrounds, we feel this is an unmissable opportunity to enrich our community, developing bonds of friendship through the universal language of music.
“Having developed close links with bands in Tewkesbury, Ipswich and more, we now look to the far side of the Atlantic Ocean and hope that this visit will be the first engagement of a musical connection that will last through the years. “As a band ourselves steeped in the tradition of marching bands, we eagerly await the opportunity to share in the joy of music-making with the Marching Mizzou, and we are confident that their performance in our town will be one for the ages and leave a lasting impression on all those who experience it.
“We thank the University of Missouri Marching Mizzou for choosing to visit Tipperary Town and hope that their visit here, however fleeting, will be filled with memorable moments and warm hospitality. We are privileged to be invited to play with them and look forward to adding another unforgettable moment to our own history, dating back as far as 1882.
“We would also like to thank Tipperary Town Revitalisation, Tipperary County Council, and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee for their work in co-ordinating this event and for their ongoing dedication to furthering our town and providing opportunities and experiences for the townspeople.
“We look forward to tuning up and entertaining the townspeople on March 16, and hope to see as many faces, familiar and new, as possible lining the streets to experience the colour and excitement of what promises to be an unforgettable event.”
Littleton
The village of Littleton near Thurles always takes great pride in its St Patrick’s Day Parades, matching or exceeding the numbers at much larger towns. This year, it will host the first parade to kick off in the Premier County, with the parade starting at 10.30am on March 17. Past committee members will lead the parade, including original founding members Margaret Bannon and Charlotte Cashin. Littleton’s 26th St Patrick’s Day parade will feature a winning prize of €250, with several other cash prizes and trophies on the day. Bunting and signage has been organised by the local Community Employment scheme and Stephanie Durrack.
Floats can register before hand or on the day, and there is no entry fee. Judges will include Jim Finn, PJ Harrington, Eibhlin Nevin, and Martina Stapleton. A special prize will include the perpetual Pat Houlihan Memorial Trophy in honour of Mr Houlihan, who was associated with the parade for many years. Entertainment will be provided by Parade MCs Joe Kirwin and Tommy Healy, while the parade will conclude by lunch time. Guests and families can expect hot drinks, soup, and cakes in the Muintir Na Tire Hall afterwards, as a fundraiser by Moycarkey Borris club. Prizes will later be presented at an awards night in Darmody’s Pub in Littleton on March 24.
Cashel
Organisers of the festivities in Cashel are asking the public to join them on the Plaza for a community celebration on St Patrick’s Day, Sunday, March 17, from 1pm to 5pm.
“We hoped to once again hold a parade in town,” said a spokesperson. “However this year there was very little interest or availability from groups that usually take part. We hope to be back bigger and better with a parade in 2025, full of floats and marching groups.
“To ensure we don’t allow the day pass with no community event we will host a St Patrick’s Day celebration in the town centre with circus entertainers, local musical talent, plenty of dance and fun. We hope you can join us on this occasion and enjoy the event. We will release further details very soon.”
Organisers gave thanks to Tipperary County Council, Tipperary Cahir Cashel Municipal District, Affinity Credit Union Cashel, and Amneal Pharmaceuticals Cashel, for their kind financial support and assistance.
Cahir
In Cahir, Saint Patrick's Day “is fast approaching,” said a promoter, and prospective participants are reminded to register their place in the parade with Cllr Andy Moloney at 086-3609110 so they can be slotted into a perfect position. St Patrick’s Day Parade in Cahir on March 17 is taking place under the theme of ‘Lights, Cameras, Action,’ and starts at 12 noon in the Cahir Business Park.
“We are inviting all our non-national residents to join in with locals to celebrate the parade in Cahir this year,” said a spokesperson for the Cahir Developments Association.
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