Tallaght to celebrate as St Patrick’s Day Parade returns to Village
By Mary Dennehy
MEMBERS of the community are invited to dress up warm, and in their green, for the revived St Patrick’s Day parade in Tallaght this Saturday, which will be followed by a family arts festival on the grounds of IT Tallaght.
A St Patrick’s Day parade is again marching through Tallaght Village after a team of community volunteers united to revive the event, which was once an annual highlight in the local calendar.
Tallaght Youth Band marching through Tallaght Village
A snapshot of Tallaght life will be showcased this Saturday as 30 local groups, clubs and organisations proudly march in the parade, with additional groups taking to the main stage of the arts festival afterwards.
The parade will leave the grounds of IT Tallaght at 1.30pm and travel down the Old Blessington Road, turn left onto Main Street at The Dragon, move past the Priory before turning right onto the Greenhills Road and back onto the IT Tallaght campus.
Organisers have stressed that there’s lots of space, with people encouraged to spread out along the route.
After the parade, a three-hour, free family festival will run on the grounds of IT Tallaght – which will include traditional music, Irish dancers, face painting and much more.
Lots of surprises are expected on the day, with a Ceili Mor also taking centre stage.
The organising committee behind the parade has thanked all those who have helped make the parade a reality, including those who have volunteered to help, the participating groups, local businesses, IT Tallaght and South Dublin County Council.
Overwhelmed with the support
Martha Cousins, the Chairperson of the St Patrick’s Day Tallaght parade, said: “We’re overwhelmed with the support we’ve had from South Dublin County Council and IT Tallaght along with all of the local businesses in this area, who without, this day would not be possible.
“The support has been amazing, there was no hesitation from any local business we approached for support.”
She added: “We’re encouraging everybody to get dressed up in their green and to celebrate the parade back in Tallaght.”
Road closures in the Tallaght Village area will be in place from 1pm to 3pm on the day.
For further details and to see a map of the route, which has dedicated viewing points for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility, visit the St Patrick’s Day Tallaght Parade & Arts Festival Facebook page.
