Tony Christie leads ‘the way’ in most successful parade in south Mayo town
A high profile grand marshal, along with great community effort and spirit, assured one of the best St. Patrick’s Day parades ever held in Claremorris.
Despite the persistent rain, hundreds of spectators lined the town’s streets from one end to another as over 45 floats passed by the centre stage at the Market Square.
Proudly wearing the green sash and scarf and yielding the baton was legendary singer Tony Christie, whose ancestors were born and lived in the area up until they emigrated to Yorkshire after World War I.
All aspects of community and business life were colourfully displayed by the parade entrants, with local companies, organisations and sports club well represented. As the final entrants passed by, the adjudication panel selected the following prize winners:
Best Float: 9th Mayo Scouts Troop.
Most Creative: Darkness into Light.
Best Performance: Gael Scoil Uileog de Burca.
Commenting at the end of a busy day, Nina Pilbrow, chairperson of the Claremorris St. Patricks Day Committee, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the great success of the parade, which was revived after a three-year absence. The event received huge support from all aspects of the community and generous sponsorship from a vast array of businesses, of which we are very grateful.
“There was a great atmosphere all around the town before and after the event, with the established businesses and pop-up artisan shops all doing well.
“The presence of our guest of honour, Tony Christie, as grand marshal was the big highlight of the occasion and he undertook his duty with distinction and duly obliged by having everyone signing along with his famous hit ‘Amarillo’ on stage.
“We were also pleased to have MEP Maria Walsh and Darren Forde, Mayo Person of the Year, as our special guests and to have RTÉ feature our event in the TV news bulletins that evening.”
Tony, who resides in the British Midlands, calls his entertainment company Mayo Music Ltd., and said that he and his family have firmly found their roots in Claremorris and south Mayo and will be forever grateful for the opportunity to be the grand marshal for the parade.
“It was a great honour and a most memorable visit. We will return soon again to Claremorris,” he said, before departing for Birmingham from Ireland West Airport Knock.
With Fitzgerald as his true surname, Tony was joined by his wife Sue, son Sean and daughter Sara to meet some local relations after the event and patiently facilitated standing in for numerous photographs with fans.
During their three-day stay in Claremorris, they visited the Gael Scoil, the former Carrowsteelaun school, Moorehall, Ballintubber Abbey, Cong and Knock Shrine. They were overwhelmed by the hospitality, friendliness and generosity shown by the town’s people and community which made for a most memorable occasion in their lives.