Preparations for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade are under way, but the importance of donations from the public are being stressed ahead of next week’s celebrations.
Parade-goers are encouraged to support the parade by making a small donation to a bucket collection on the day, as Chairperson of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee, Deirde Healy-McGowan, explained.
“Without people putting money in that bucket collection on the day, the parade would not be able to survive. That bucket collection done on the day is to keep the parade going for the following year. All people have to give to the collection is €1 per person and that would save the parade year on year.”
The parade is considered hugely important and that a place such as Sligo must be in a position to hold one.
“We did a bucket collection last week for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and there were two elderly ladies giving us money and I was explaining to them that we nearly lost the parade last year due to lack of funding and they were astounded,”Deirdre said.
“It would really drain the heart out of the people of Sligo when you look at other places like China, India and Dubai holding a parade and if the people didn’t have a parade to celebrate they probably wouldn’t even bother getting out of their beds if it wasn’t for the parade.”
Meanwhile, preparations for the upcoming parade are entering their final stages with the big day coming in just one week.
“Preparations are in full swing at the moment. We have a lot of applications in already. Last year we had an outstanding number of participants so this year we hope for more again. We have a couple of surprises in line too, every year we try to something a little bit different in the parade to make it exciting and this year will be no different.”
The theme for this year’s parade is 1916 Commemorations. Applications must be made online at stpatricksdaysligo.com.
Following the parade, Sligo Inter-cultural Forum will be holding a celebration in Gilooly Hall.
The event is open to all. For more information contact Kebba at 086-1918758 or Cathy on 083-8405494.
