Shrek is coming to Castlebar on St. Patrick's Day.

Shrek to star in new-look Castlebar parade as 'float trucks' are sidelined

PLANS are at an advanced stage for this year’s new-look St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday, March 17, starting 2 p.m.

Out go large vehicles and 'float trucks' to be replaced by a mardi gras concept featuring such well-known characters as Shrek and Bart Simpson.

There will be plenty of colour and festival fun and the organising committee hope the whole town will get behind the event and make it a special day.

Said a spokesperson: “We want everyone to be able to participate in some way so are having a photo competition. There will be a cash prize for the winner. All you have to do to enter is take a photograph and upload to our Facebook page.”

The committee will be holding a window display competition for the businesses too.

Just dress your window in a “Shop local this St. Patrick’s Day.” There will be special attention given to windows using the ‘Cúpla Focal’ and Gnó Mhaigh Eo have come on board to a offer a special prize along with the cash prize already on offer.

Lá Fhéile Pádraig is our national feast day, and what better way to celebrate than with our native tongue! Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam – a country without a language, is a country without a soul.

Anyone who wants help with translations can contact the Chamber at chamber@castlebar.ie or gno@gnomhaigheo.ie directly. Beidh fáilte romhat!

 There is big interest in the newly-introduced“Féile an Chaisleáin”, a concert/fiesta that will take place on Market Square from 12 noon.

Local musicians, local dance school, the Humbert Céilí Band, street entertainers, bouncy castles, face-painters and a magician will all be there performing.Beidh ceol agis craic, damhsa agus spraoi ann.

“Fear an tí” for the day will be Daithí Ó Gallachóir and he will perform with his colleague, Chris Duffy. There will be nine golden wing motor bikes taking park and they will be on display in the square too.

To facilitate the route of the new-look mardi gras parade, large vehicles and large ”truck floats” are discouraged.

Added the spokesperson: “We invite any buskers, jugglers, singers to join in on the fun on the street to add to this unique event. The music will stop while the parade passes and after it, for about an hour, the céilí band will play and there will be an opportunity for all you céilí and set dancers to get your steps together.”

Volunteers will be needed to help with marshaling the event and details can be had by ringing the Chamber at (094) 9024845. Bígí linn do Lá Fhéile Pádraig i gCaisleán an Bharraigh!

To contact the committee directly, call Ger Deere at (087) 907 2138 or Paul Ainsworth (087) 787 4212.