St Patrick's Day bog festival returns to Laois town with live outdoors concert

A Laois town is set to ring out with music and life once again this St Patrick's Day, after the parade was cancelled last year.

Mountmellick was unusually silent for St Patrick's Day in 2024, after the Boglands Festival committee cancelled their plans.

This year as well as arranging a traditional parade on March 17 and family fun over two days, the committee has booked some big name professional singers, and a hiccup has been solved over a planned pub venue.

Organiser Jason McInerney spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"It is great to have it back, we are absolutely delighted. We hope to see a big crowd. We have lovely groups in the parade, we just hope it will be good weather now," he said.

The Clock Inn was due to host a concert for the festival, featuring musicians Fieldsy, Jason Floody and Pam McLoughlin. It has now been moved to the outdoors.

"We have pulled the concert onto the main stage in the square," he explained.

The family fun will last two whole days, Sunday March 16 and Monday March 17. The committee are continuing their strict ban on public alcoholic drinking.

"If alcohol is produced it will be taken. We will have Laois Civil Defence and Gardaí on duty. We stand over this because there are children present," Mr McInerney said.

Mountmellick onlookers will get to meet Rough And Reliable singer Nathan Maher and Tiktok slurry sensation Eoin Lynch who will be leading out the tractors.

On Sunday the family entertainment starts at noon, with events until 5.30pm. Music students of Mountmellick Community School will perform, along with Irish dancers and trad musicians. There will be market stalls and kids attractions too.

On Monday St Patrick's Day, the music and dancing starts at 10am in the square, including Dance On Stage performers, with Disney characters and circus acts performing amid the crowds.

The parade begins at 2pm in Harbour Street, with walking groups asked to assemble at 1pm, and vehicles at 1.30pm.

Local winners are proudly leading it, the Mountmellick GAA hurling team and Mountmellick Macra who are national Capers champions. Also marching are the United Nations Post 27 veterans with St Joseph's Accordion Band and more drummers along the paraders providing the marching music. Traditional musicians are invited to play at set locations along the parade route.

There will be prizes for the best float, and the best window display.

After the parade, local paralympic hero and disability activist Ailish Gorman will raise the Irish tricolour, with Mountmellick native, singer Emer Dunne singing the national anthem. Live music follows in the square at 5pm. 

Read more: Busy road closing in Laois town for a week this March. 

"The parade relies on public donations, and we are very grateful to everyone for their support. We will have a final collection taking place in SuperValu Mountmellick weekend. We also welcome more helpers for the festival," the organiser said.

The public is asked to move any vehicles out of O’Connell Square on Saturday night March 16 as it will be closed off from midnight. Get in touch with Boglands Festival committee on 085 2135119 or 085 2093253 or email mmcentralhubservices @gmail.com