Champion Laois Ladies to lead the way on St Patrick's Day in Portlaoise

All-Ireland Final silverware lifted in Croke Park will have pride of place in Portlaoise when it's paraded by the Laois All-Ireland Ladies Gaelic Football champions as Grand Marshalls of the town's St Patrick's Day parade.

The St Patrick’s Day Committee have scored a real coup by persuading the all-conquering Intermediate Champions to lead the way around the county town on Ireland's big day.

It's an appropriate honour for the team as a recognition of their fantastic achievements in 2022 which culminated in an All-Ireland Intermediate win the Mary Quinn over Wexford on the biggest day in sport for Irish women at GAA HQ.  

The announcement was made as the committee put the final touches on their plans for this year’s Parade and they expect the ‘Craic will be Mighty’, with numerous floats entered and bands playing at the top and bottom of Main Street this year.

The parade commences at County Hall on James Fintal Lalor Avenue at 12.30pm before proceeding up the Main Street (from the bottom to the top square).

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Some of the particpants include: UN veterans, vintage displays from Tony Dunne, Ballinakill, Raheen and Knock Vintage Clubs; Portlaoise GAA; Clonad GAA; Portlaoise Soccer Club; Fossey Mountain Range; Laois African Support Group; Golden Ravens from Timahoe; Civil Defence; Ukrainian Support Group; Laochra Laois and much much more.

The Parade will finish at the top square at approximately 2 pm where a viewing stand will be filled with Laois TDs, Councillors and other local dignitaries. 

The parade will be followed by Irish dancing, music, craft stalls, children’s amusements and more in the town centre. The committee says children can purchase a band this year for €5 which entitles them to use the children’s amusements in a designated area as many times as they like.

There'll also be music on the top square with bands confirmed to include the AJs, the Finns and Frank’s Country and Western All Stars to name but a few.   

MCs – Christy Bannon and Paul Downey will entertain the crowds at the top and bottom square during the day.

The committee members say they are grateful to all local businesses and communities who are helping to make this a memorable event including Laois County Council, Portlaoise Publicans, Downtown Portlaoise and Portlaoise Tidy Towns. 

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The St Patrick’s Day committee include: Chairperson and Events Co-Ordinator, Dominic Dunne; Secretary, Pauline Flanagan; Treasurer Eugene McDonough, Paul Downey MC, Christy Bannon MC, Frank Ward, PJ Kavanagh; Wayne Haslam, Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald and Noel Tuohy.