Community volunteers unite to revive St Patrick’s Day parade
By Mary Dennehy
A ST PATRICK’S Day parade will once again march through Tallaght Village after a team of community volunteers united to revive the event on March 17.
For many who grew up in Tallaght, the local St Patrick’s Day parade was an annual highlight – with many marching proudly through the area as they represented their school, club, troupe, band or business.
The parade also gave the community an opportunity to recognise and applaud all of the talent, achievements and successes of local groups – as people and bunting lined the original route which meandered from Tymon North onto the Old Bawn Road and into Tallaght Village.
This year’s parade will take a different route, and will leave the grounds of IT Tallaght, move along the Old Blessington Road onto Main Street in Tallaght Village before turning left onto the Greenhills Road and back into IT Tallaght.
The college campus will be the location of a new family arts festival on the day, with plenty of St Patrick’s Day events for the whole family.
Roderick Smyth, the Vice Chair of the St Patrick’s Day commiteee, said: “After a few attempts we are happy to say that the Tallaght St Patrick’s Day Parade will return to its proper home of Main Street Tallaght, and we are introducing a family arts festival with St Patrick’s Day events for all the family.”
The committee of community volunteers has for the past 18 months been working on the 2018 event, which was recently launched in IT Tallaght – which is the main event partner.
A number of local businesses have also come on board to support the event.
“The Parade will start in the grounds of IT Tallaght, move along the Old Blessington Road, Main Street and then on to the Greenhills Road and end in the arts festival area located in the open grounds of IT Tallaght,” Roderick said.
“We need groups and organisations to take part in both the parade and the festival.
“We also need volunteers and sponsors of the event…there is a role for everyone in this parade.
“Finally, we need people to spread the word that the parade is back in Tallaght.”
For further information on taking part, volunteering or sponsoring the parade, contact Sharon Byrne on tallaghtparade.festival [at] gmail [dot] com or message the team on the St Patricks Day Tallaght Facebook page.
