ABBEY Street car park served as an excellent venue for the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Ennis which attracted hundreds to the county town.
Ennis native Maura O’Connell was grand marshal for the parade and sang ‘My Irish Molly O’ and ‘The Water is Wide’ from the reviewing stand in Abbey Street car park.
Maura was chosen by Mayor of the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) as the grand marshal. During a six week tour of the US in 1980, Maura began her professional music journey as vocalist for De Dannan. The following year, she was featured on the band’s landmark album, The Star Spangled Molly. She released her debut album in 1980. In 1986, she moved to Nashville and went on to have a very successful career in the US releasing albums with Jerry Douglas and Béla Fleck and sharing the stage with many top artists such as Dolly Parton, John Prine, James Taylor, Alison Krauss, Kris Kristofferson, John Oates, Van Morrison and Bonnie Raitt.
A delegation from Ennis’ twinning town in Germany, Langenfeld. The Mayor of Langenfeld Frank Schneider and members of the city administration and twinning committee participated in the parade and experience St Patrick’s Day in Ennis. Clare FM’s Colum McGrath was MC for the parade.
Pre-parade entertainment began from 10:15am with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann performing on stage in Abbey Street carpark while Scoil Ui Ruairc Irish dancing school entertained on stage at Steele’s Terrace.
‘Remembering the Past – Embracing the Future’ was the theme for this year’s parade which
began at Áras Contae an Chláir at 11:00am and proceeded via New Road, Newbridge Road, Club Bridge, Abbey Street carpark, Bank Place and Bindon Street.
Clarecastle Show Society won the prize for best visual spectacle worth €500, Ennis Tidy Towns was chosen as most environmentally aware entrant to win €250, Ennis Brass Band was deemed the best musical entrant to scoop €250 while Clare Macra was awarded €250 for best interpretation of theme.
All photographs by John O’Neill
