Family fun all day for Mountmellick parade

The fun lasted all day in Mountmellick on St Patrick’s Day, with entertainment in the square by Comhaltas, Leona’s Irish dancers, singer Joe Laffan, DJ Danny, Laois Martial Arts and Mountmellick community School’s Trad Society, with bouncy castles, the bumble bus and facepainting.

Fresh from the success of their 25th dramafestival, Patricia Conroy from the Drama Society was grandmaster, walking with pride beside St Patrick, aka Shay Farley.

Marching tunes were provided by Mountmellick Pipe Band and St Joseph’s Accordian Band from Portlaoise.

Sporting groups included Sarsfields, The Rock and Mountmellick GAA clubs, the soccer club with a friendly wolf mascot, the gymnastics club, and kickboxing clubs.

Scouts, ladybirds and baton twirlers also took part, as well as Macra, the 1916 commemoration group, and the Darkness into Light group.

Naionrá Naomh Aine children were adorable in homemade costumes, while the retirement and environment groups picked up the theme of ‘Small town Big heart’, with of course lots of vintage cars, tractors and big satrucks.