Come celebrate St Patrick's Day in Laois community in the scenic Slieve Blooms

The picturesque village of Clonaslee will host its second-ever St Patrick's Day parade on the national holiday on Friday, March 17 next.

Plans are ongoing for the parade and float applications are now open organisers revealed at the launch of the event in the Laois village's community centre on Wednesday, February 23.

Paralympian Garrett Culliton is Grand Marshall of the parade which commences at 12 noon on March 17 from the community centre.

While neighbouring towns and villages in Laois and Offaly have held parades for many years it was only in 2020 that the community in Clonaslee decided they too should honour the country's patron saint. But their plans were dashed due to Government restrictions prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Clonaslee children are looking forward to the big day. Pic: Tom O'Hanlon

As a result, history was made in 2022 when the organising committee got the nod to host the village's first-ever St Patrick's Day parade.

Organisers, participants and onlookers deemed it a great community success with hundreds thronging to the village nestling in the foothills of the Slieve Bloom mountains for the spectacle.

As such it was no surprise that the parade would return this year and the hard-working organising committee promises it will be bigger and better than 2022.

Floats and entries in the parade are asked to assemble at the community centre from 11am onwards.

Prizes include €500 cash prize for Best Overall Float and €100 cash prizes for each of the category winners. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Sína Kelly pictured at the official launch of the Clonaslee Parade. Pic: Tom O'Hanlon

The categories are:

• Best Vintage,
• Best Dressed Dog,
• Best Club/School,
• Most Original and Most Entertaining.

All entries in the parade will receive a commemorative medal.

The parade's Grand Marshall Garrett  Culliton is a native of Clonaslee and son of the late Gerry Culliton, who played rugby for Ireland.   

Garrett himself was a sporting all-rounder while growing up, but a spinal cord injury sustained during a rugby match when he was 22, left him in a wheelchair. Not to be deterred, he overcame  the tragedy to achieve  sporting success, not just for himself but for many other Laois people with disabilities. More below picture.

He has been instrumental in the founding of wheelchair rugby and basketball teams alongside his exploits as an accomplished discus thrower and table tennis player at international level, competing in the paralympics four times.

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If anyone has any queries about the parade please contact Brendan on 087-967-5054 or Ronan on 085-148-2296 or check the event out on Facebook.