Parades across Ireland enjoyed by thousands on Saint Patrick's Day.
The parade in Bray County Wicklow was organised by the local youth council and featured a colour party from the local FCA (Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil). More than twenty local organisations, clubs, and the Civil Defence, took part. For the first time floats featured in the parade.
Arklow's parade was the biggest for many years, with four bands, thirty four floats and twenty four clubs.
Minister of State for the Environment John O’Leary TD (Teachta Dála) reviewed the Waterford parade, which included members of the Naval Service.
Brendan Corish TD was one of the dignitaries in Wexford, and the townspeople were treated to a colourful parade which had six bands and no shortage of participants, including Scouts, Girl Guides and local football clubs.
The Tralee parade was impressive and well-attended. While Athlone staged its biggest ever parade. It was presided over by Minister for Fisheries and Forestry, Brian Lenihan TD and people enjoyed music from the band of the Western Command, the Athlone Pipe Band, and many bands from neighbouring towns.
An estimated twenty five thousand people thronged the streets of Longford to see the town’s parade, which took over an hour and a half to pass by the review stand.
The Castlebar parade included Irish dancing schools, sections of the Mayo Fire Service, Order of Malta and local social and sporting associations.
Special prizes were awarded for the best turned out entries.
Kingscourt County Cavan also had a large parade, featuring locally manufactured goods made in the town, and bands and organisations from the area.
The only parade in County Monaghan was held in Carrickmacross, and was not lacking in imaginative entries. Two bands led the parade which featured Scouts and Guides, Brownies, Housewives Clubs, Parent Teachers Association and members of the Urban District Council.
The Dundalk parade also included a large number of girl guides and boy scouts, marching bands and the Order of Malta.
Eleven bands and thirty seven floats took part in the Sligo parade, including
A delegation from the Sligo Association in London.
The parade in Donegal town, sponsored by the local Junior Chamber of Commerce, was no less impressive and had prizes for both private and commercial entries.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 18 March 1978. The reporter is Colm Connolly.
