Bunratty, Fanore And Sixmilebridge St. Patrick's Day Festivities

0:00We have been checking in over the past week or two on the various St. Patrick's Day Parades and festivities planned for various locations around the county. We're going to continue that now. Joining us for Six Mile Bridge is PJ Ryan, of course, former councillor. He's with the St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee there. Marie Brennan, whose events manager at Bonratty Castle in Folk Park, we're also joined by Ann Pilkinton from Fenor, who's involved with their parade. And you're all very welcome to the show. And PJ might start with yourself, the day itself, the 17th March, from 1245. What can people expect from the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Six Mile Bridge? Good morning, Alan. Good morning, Julie. Well, at the moment, Six Mile Bridge has been in existence the parade for over 20 years. And as usual this year, we'd be hit it up by the toilet pipe band, a very famous band. And we have no less than nine grandmasters this year because we have the Pat Brady moderns out of St. Patrick's

1:02heading up the front of the parade. And I think that we're all for looking to have some some young people heading up the parade. Sometimes it has to get grandmasters. We're terribly lucky this year, like, and they will have with them the months that come to the moon recently back in December. And they're underway to the world championship in Chicago. So like, that's something big for us. We have all the local businesses, they will have floats and be involved in the parade. We have the the the scouts, the order of Martha, the Commogia talk, the soccer club, the Holland club, the tidy towns. And General Gladys, Horses and Wagon, we'd have been just motorbikes like those on cows. So, you know, that's a big lot of people, you know, calling on to the streets. We're starting at the Monterey, we're posing a state and the thoughts would be coming on to the parade from the old millionaire and Six Mile Bridge. Okay, sounds like lots of stuff planned and very much fun for all the family to be petting

2:07zoos and much more besides food stalls too, if anyone is peckish. Yes, and we will have a reviewing standing in the square and six mile bridge. And, you know, after was then like, there's loads of things to do, like, there's an animal farm there, and the scouts will be preparing some food there. And like, there's the soccer club, they have a fundraiser there for their trip to Barcelona, they have one and a year. The committee in the parade and Six Mile Bridge has been very successful. That's right, the night we had a quiz for fundraiser, and we have a black pudding night, a satan night in Kilmorey to raise more funds for the parade. So, it's been very successful over the last 20 years. And just for let's go, PJ, the team for the parade is a big dreams, bright futures. Tell us what the thinking is behind that. Well, sure, I suppose, like, you know, at the end of the day, like, you know, it's it's

3:08all to do with community, like, all the community activity, like, is, is, are pulled together on the day, like, and they all have their best show, like, and everybody wants to be top price, and there are some prizes for it, like, so that's where the big dreams come, coming to it, like, oh, we also will have the MC on the day. Bri Dylan, she will be actually looking after the people from the viewing stand and our local council of John Crow will have a roving mic on the day, and he'll be trying to get the best out of everybody. Very good. Sounds like lots in store for Six Mile Bridge. PJ, thank you very much. Let's go to Marie Brennan, and thanks for being with us, Marie. A variety of cast and folk park is hosting Shamrox and Shenanigans this weekend. So, what can visitors expect from this celebration? What have you gotten store? Oh, we've been huge line up in store, Alan, and we're eating things up early because we know everybody is quite busy on St. Patrick's Day on the 17th with parades and everything. So we kick off on Sunday the 15th to the dawn of our festivities. Now, there's a huge leading on all things

4:13traditional, and when you arrive and come through, you'll be able to meet St. Patrick and have a full schedule with St. Patrick, and learn some legends and tales of St. James, the Jewish, and as usual, you'll be able to, you know, enjoy our music or traditional music or dancing from our young championship dancers from the ball home, and Academy of Memory. And of course, the clear vintage and tractor club will be there with all of their machinery and artifacts, and we've members of some of the parakely bands play music, of course, and of course, the usual even callings to golden veiled and learn how butter was made in the 19th century and and a really bread baking on the open fire. And if you'd also like to learn about how whiskey was made back in back in the year back in the old days, you can call into JJ Carrey's and learn the art and the craft of brewing whiskey. And of course, no visit to the full park would be

5:16complete without missing all of our lovely animals, the the wolf hounds, the man and neither, the bog ponies is always sheep, and of course spring has sprung here. The grounds are showing great spray of daffodils and snow drops and blue bells, so it's, the place is starting to come to life well, you're painting quite the picture there, Marie, and a very enticing picture, I must say, so that is Shamrock and Shenanigans up on Rady Castle and Folk Park, the same Patrick's Weekend on Sunday, the 15th of March. Marie, thank you very much for filling us in on that. Also on the same day, the festivities in Fenor and Anpilkentin, what have you got in store for the parade and everything else that's attached to it this coming Sunday. Good morning, Alan, from the beautiful Fenor, we have a great days entertainment lined up. Like you said, we are kickstouching hours again on Sunday the 15th at 2pm, so we relieve the beach at 2pm, heading for our viewing stand

6:19outside Donahue's pub. So, great days, family entertainment from all the family. And this year, we're doing a special tribute to Kevin McCorme who passed away in 2025. Kevin was one of the members who kickstouched the parade again over 20 years ago. He was a wonderful community man. He was also involved in the setting up of the Bally Vaughan Fenor walking club and the Fenor events club. So, our team of our parades this year is to celebrate the contribution that Kevin has made to the community. And in line with that, our grand marshal this year is Mary O'Brien from Bally Vaughan representing the walking club. Now, in Fenor, we've never really given our prizes far close because we just always thought participation is the most important thing. But this year, in Kevin's memory, the walking club are donating a prize of 100 euros. And similarly, the events club are also donating another 100 euro prize. So, we're not going to do best this

7:22or that. We're going to say that everybody who participates their name will go into a box and we will pick two. And so, this year, for the locals and visitors alike, this is the year to consider putting in a float in Kevin's memory and as a contribution or attribute to him. And there's the chance to win 100 euros of a cash prize. So, we also have lots of entertainment and for all of the family, we have circus performers as usual. We still walkers, joggers, hula hoop dancers. And then we have a monster raffle. So, this year, our first prize is sponsored by Catherine O'Connor from O'Connor's Village Shop. And we'd like, on behalf of the parade committee, to wish Catherine every success in her new venture of taking over our village store. So, we're going to have music on the stage in the viewing stand outside O'Connor who's from about 1 o'clock with our local trial group, loads of other local musicians to entertain us there until the parade gets up to the viewing stand. And then we'll have music in the pub

8:27from late afternoon. Food served all day in O'Connor's and in Finore Cafe. So, lots of people coming this year with lots of commitment for lots of new flows because there's lots of actually celebrations in the area, lots of anniversaries taking place around this time. The walking club is 20 years old this year. So, we'd be celebrating with them. Alliwe Cave is celebrating 50 years and they're coming along to celebrate with us also. And one of our greatest supporters in the parade is always the Finore Lies-Duenvierna Angling Club and they're celebrating 65 years this year. So, lots to celebrate, lots of reason to come along, enjoy yourself, enjoy a great day out in the beautiful coastal village of Finore next Sunday, the 15th to PM. From 2 PM sounds wonderful and thank you very much for paying to the picture while people can expect from the festivities in Finore this coming Sunday. That's Ann Pilkin to meet us. Thanks to her, to Marie Brennan from Bonne Rattie Castle of Folk Park and from the Sixth Mile Bridge in Patrick's Day Parade Committee,

9:29P.J. Ryan for joining us on Morning Focus.