The theme of “Ireland’s Friendliest Place” will be the centre piece celebrations at this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade in Ennis.
The county’s largest parade is among several such events taking place across the county this weekend.
Officially Ireland’s Friendliest Town, according to a Retail Excellence Ireland award last year, Ennis is celebrating that honour as making it the theme of their annual St Patrick’s Day parade tomorrow.
Up to 10,000 people are expected on the streets of the county town for the event which kicks off at 11 o’clock.
Mayor of Ennis, Councillor Paul Murphy and Grand Marshall John Burke will lead the parade in a horse-drawn carriage from Áras Contae an Chláir through the town.
They’ll be followed by 40 groups representing the many aspects of life in Ennis and County Clare.
The parade will feature a music group from the German town of Langenfeld, which is twinned with Ennis and there will also will be a range of artistic, cultural and sporting groups together with schools, boy scouts and various community groups.
Mayor of Ennis, Councillor Paul Murphy says that after seeing John Burke become the first Banner native to scale Mount Everest, he had no hesitation in choosing him as the parade’s Grand Marshall.
It’s one of a number of events taking place across the county.
Kilfenora will celebrate the 20th anniversary of their parade, which begins at noon
Killaloe will kick off their festivities at 1 pm at the GAA pitch in Ballina, on the Tipp side of the Bridge.
“The West Is Alive” will be the theme behind the Miltown Malbay parade, which also gets underway 1 pm.
In Shannon the parade starts at 1:30 pm, and at the same time in Doolin and also in Ennistymon.
The Kilrush parade gets underway at 2 o’clock from the top of Henry Street.
The Tulla Parade will wait til the later time of 4.30 pm when festivities begin at the national school.
