Sir William Wallace’s large and fearsome sword, an even larger sliotar and the Rith group completing an Irish-speaking run around the island were highlights of today’s St Patrick’s Day parade in Galway city.
Adam Moore was the Stirling “Braveheart” nominated to carry the replica sword used by Scotland’s knight and national hero to defeat the English in 1297. He and Scottish colleagues from the Stirling and District Pipe Band were marking not only the patron saint’s festival, but also a new musical link between the two cities, known as the Stirling-Galway Sessions.
However, guest of honour was John Killeen, the businessman and yachtsman credited with bringing the Volvo Ocean Yacht Race to Galway twice over – the nrace is due to finish in the west coast capital in 2012.
Town crier Liam Silke led the 52 groups – the theme this year being “Over the moon”. There was a strong contingent of Galway’s “new Irish”, such as the Association of Nigerians, the South African community, members of the Russian Cultural Centre, the Galway- Filipino Irish community and the residents’ association representing refugees and asylum seekers at Salthill’s Eglinton Hotel.
As with previous years, there was also a strong proselytising dimension, with groups such as the World Alive ministry, the Christian Camp of the Arts, the Discovery Church and the Hare Krishna drummers.
One of the most colourful groups in the “secular” section was Galway Bellydance, while sporting groups includes the Liam Mellows Hurling and Camogie Club with its sliotar, the Castlegar junior hurling and camogie players, Galway city judo school and Galway United and Barna United soccer
clubs.
Breton folk musicians from Lorient are regular visitors to Galway for March 17th, and local musicians included St Patrick’s Brass Band. Other participants included the Galway Community Circus, Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh in Knocknacarra, the Claddagh National School and Scoil San Phroinsias, Tirellan.
Transition year students from Coláiste Iognaid joined fellow students from Coláiste Éinde, while NUI Galway students on bicycles advertised a “smart travel” initiative to reduce carbon emissions.
Non-governmental organisations included Amnesty International, the Samaritans and the Galway Traveller Movement, while two dozen runners supporting the Rith.ie run around Ireland to promote the Irish language followed the parade into Eyre Square.
The group presented Irish language commissioner Seán Ó Cuirreáin with a message from President Mary McAleese. The message had been carried by the runners over the past nine days from Belfast through 250 towns and villages in a relayed baton.
Galway’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations actually began last Saturday with the unveiling of an installation by local artist Jane Talbot at Spanish Arch, and Macnas street theatre group presented some “random acts of madness” over several nights.
Macnas also collaborated with Black Light, Andy Smyth and the festival organisers in an exhibition of light, sound and art at Spanish Arch last night.
An “under the moon” festival wrap party is due to take place tonight at the Blackbox Theatre, Galway when a “carnival” atmosphere is promised.
Extra gardai have been on duty in the city and the Garda have warned anyone caught “urinating in public” that they will find themselves testing “toilet facilities in a prison cell”. Alcohol consumed in public places will also be seized, according to the gardaí.
Parades took place in mild, dry and occasionally sunny weather throughout the west today, including a revived event in Spiddal, Co Galway, involving junior sailors from Cumann Seoltóireachta an Spidéil, and Mountbellew’s first ever parade.
There were celebrations in Ballinasloe, Loughrea, Tuam, Glenamaddy, Oranmore, Clifden, Oughterard and Killererin. In Gort, participants included members of the town’s Brazilian community.
Young musicians from the Scoil Croí Naofa Band led the parade in Athenry, while Portumna postponed its St Patrick’s Day in the town as there was a mass exodus east to support its hurling team in the All Ireland Club Hurling Final in Croke Park, Dublin. Unfortunately, a temporary gloom was cast over the east of the county when the two-time Portumna champions lost to Kilkenny’s Ballyhale Shamrocks.