Cork:Time will tell if Cork is ever to have a human grand marshal again as guide dogs for the blind led the St Patrick's Day parade yesterday following in the footsteps of Dustin the turkey's highly successful turn in 2004.
The Leeside parade received an injection of colour and flair to coincide with the city's year as European Capital of Culture. An Air Corps low-level flypast signalled the start of festivities, and the parade began with the traditional 100-metre race past the line.
An estimated 70,000 people lined the streets for the event. Commercial vehicles and trucks were all but banned from the parade, with colourful community groups giving the event a local flavour.
St Mary's Senior Citizens Percussion Band was a big hit as, armed with what could politely be called unusual instruments, representing Cork pensioners.
The group members from Knocknaheeny on the north side of the city spent weeks fashioning instruments from old bottle tops, vacuum cleaners and biscuit tins before donning crazy hats and rainbow-coloured clothes as they marched the steps of the parade.
An important tradition in Traveller culture was revived as a specially constructed barrel-top wagon hit the streets. The use of the wagon is now rare in Ireland, it having been replaced by the caravan in the 1960s.
A historic wreath-laying ceremony took place at the Father Mathew statue. The Cork Barrack Street Band, which was founded by Father Mathew, placed a shamrock wreath at the statue during the parade.
Organisers of the first Cork St Patrick's Festival said last night they were delighted with the reaction to their re-invigorated parade, which was the start of three days of celebrations.
Festival director Dara McClatchie said yesterday's event, the culmination of months of hard work by community groups, had captured the imagination of the thousands of people who thronged the streets.
"We are delighted with the way the parade went," he said. "A lot of planning went into putting together a celebration worthy of Cork, and the parade is just the start of our big party."
Other highlights included a food market in Oliver Plunkett Street providing sustenance to parade-goers.
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were in Cork yesterday for the festivities. As part of their agenda they met with members of Belfast City Council who were in the southern city for St Patrick's Day.
The parade provided the centrepiece of a four-day festival celebrating Cork and its culture.
An amazing spectacle came to life at University College Cork last night as 150 people took part in the "White Quadrangle." The performance included local people between the ages of nine and 80, from all walks of life, including drummers, drama students, UCC staff and a newspaper vendor.