St. Patrick's Day Celebrations Get Underway In The Midlands

All three counties will have festivities across the weekend.

St. Patrick's Day celebrations are already underway in the midlands. 

Thousands of people will line the streets of the region to celebrate our national Saint over the next couple of days. 

Westmeath:

Festivities are already underway in Westmeath with Athlone's annual Croí na hÉireann Festival kicked on Thursday, and it will run until Monday.

Runners and walkers will gather at the Regional Sports Centre on Sunday, while musical performances from Athlone Comhaltas and Féile na Sionnaine stalwarts will feature in the centre of the town prior to a big festival parade on Monday.

Chairman of Croi na hEireann, John Henson, is looking forward to the spectacle:

Meanwhile, festivities kick off in Mullingar on Saturday when a Flotilla of boats will arrive from the Royal Canal with Saint Patrick. 

The Aon Half Marathon will start in the town centre on Sunday, and Midlands 103's Peter Dunne, Will Faulkner and David Hollywood will be taking part in it, which runs along the royal canal and into the town park to the finish line.

The parade itself will take place from 3pm on Sunday and there will also be a quiet section for those with sensory needs. 

There will be children's entertainment from 1:30pm to 4pm. 

Moate's parade will begin at 1:30pm on Sunday, there will be music from the  Athlone Town Pipe Band, Clara Town Band and the Mullingar Town Band and the Celtic Crusaders. 

Celebrations kick off in Castlepollard on Sunday at 5pm. There will be over €1200 in prizes To Be Won For The Best Floats with Community Clubs And Schools Taking Part. 

This year's theme is 'Westmeath Through the Ages'.  

President of the committee Donie Cassidy says the town is ideally set up for a parade:

In Delvin, festivities will begin at 3pm on Monday the 18th, with prizes up for grabs in categories like Best Children's Float, Best Environmental Float, and Best Business Float,

The Main Street will be closed between 2pm and 6pm and diversions will be in place.

OFFALY:

Celebrations are getting under way in Offaly on Saturday, with Buskers Day talking place on the Big Rig from 4pm to 6pm and on Sunday the town will hold its parade at 12 noon and Martin Goulding will be on the Big Rig afterwards. 

There will also be a social dance in the town hall from 5pm with music from Pat Maguire. 

It's a 10am start time in Rhode on Sunday. 

The parade will start on the Power Station Road and continue through the village. 

Residents along the route are asked to decorate their homes with bunting and flags.

It's also a 10am start for festivities in Mountbolus. The parade starts from outside Newtons on the Hill. 

It's then over to Shannon Harbour for the start of a river parade at 12 noon, which arrive in Banagher at 1pm.

There will free children's face painting in library car park from 1.30pm. 

And the committee will be awarding prizes for best window display, float, underage group and vintage. 

Meanwhile in Clara, the square will be filled with music from 11.30am with over 70 floats expected to make their way through the streets of the town at 12.30pm.

The Tullamore St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee says there will be an amazing mixture of big bands, colour, dancing, lots of fun and something for everyone.  

The day starts with entertainment  by Tullamore Comhaltas from 10.30 am.  

Former Taoiseach, Brian Cowen is this year's Grand Marshall. 

PRO Sean O Brien says the theme is Ireland Culture Through Music Chat and fun and peace throughout the world:

Sr Aine Small has been the job of the Grand Marshall in Edenderry. 

The parade will pass through the town at 2.30pm and there will be a funfair and other activities for children. 

There's an extra special celebration in Kilcormac, as the town marks its 40th parade. 

The parade gets underway at 3.30pm and there will be diversions in place on the N52 from 3.15pm until approximately 4.30pm.

Laois: 

It's an early start in Laois on St. Patrick's Day, with The Heath's parade kicking off at 8.45am at the GAA club, before proceeding to the church for 9.30am mass with refreshments served afterwards in the adjoining parish hall.

Those wanting to make the festivities in Vicarstown will have to be ready for 9am, followed by mass in the Church of the Assumption at 9.30am.

It's a 10am start in Timahoe as the parade will also march to 10:30am Mass in St. Michael's Church.

And celebrations begin in Stradbally at 11am and will end with mass in the Church of the Sacred Heart at 11:30am.

Rathdowney's St. Patrick's Day Festival also takes place at 11am the theme "On the One Road".

The committee is asking businesses and residents to take part in the window display competition. 

The Grand Marshal for 2024 - is "The Incredabilities", which is a newly formed playgroup dedicated to celebrating the successes, rather than focusing on the challenges, of young people aged 3-15 with additional needs.

Clonaslee's parade will begin from the Community Centre at 12 noon, with a cash prizes up for grabs for the Best Overall Float, Best Vintage float and Best Dressed Dog.

The Lynam School of Irish Dancing will be opening the celebrations in Mountrath with a performance in front of the main stage at 10.45am, with the floats passing through the town at 12.30pm. 

The theme for this year is ‘All kinds of everything’, which leaves plenty of scope for the imagination. 

Camross Ceoltas will be performing on the main stage after the parade and there will be street entertainment to keep the children busy

The Portlaoise parade will commence from Laois County Council HQ from James Fintan Lalor Avenue at 12.30pm on March 17th.

Secretary Pauline Flanagan says there's lots on offer in the town:

Things get underway in Rosenallis at 3.30pm. There will be prizes for the best floats on the day and plaques will be presented to those who bring their vintage vehicles. 

There's also free Tea, Coffee and Cake in the community centre afterwards.