Weather conditions for the annual St.Patrick’s Day Parade 2010 in Thurles were excellent this year and this led to a great atmosphere here in Liberty Square.
This was the biggest and best parade, in living memory, to be held in Thurles, with a record 60 entries, each filled with great imagination, colour and a wide variety of topic. Over €3,000 in cash, prizes and medals were handed out on the day.
The parade was viewed from the reviewing stand by local representatives from the Army, Police, all Religious and Political sectors and the Mayor of Thurles Mrs Evelyn Nevin.
The Parade was officially started by His Grace Dr. Dermot Clifford, Archbishop of Cashel and the commentary for this event was provided by Thomas Gleeson, Committee Chairman.
Over 100 business people, clubs, schools, organisations and individuals were involved in the overall celebrations and the organising committee extended a big thank you to all who assisted in any way.
Entertainment commenced in Liberty Square at 2.30pm with excellent music supplied by “The Moynihan Brothers“. Colourful street stilt-walkers from Cork Circus, who appeared representing the four elements, “Air, Fire, Earth and Water”, entertaining both young and old assembled. Other entertainers included Jack Flash (Juggler), Aussie the Emu, Hoppy and Presto, and Face Painters and a Balloon Modellers were also very much evidence, adding greatly to the parade’s overall huge success and enjoyment for the huge crowd assembled.
Here is a small piece of live video footage to give our readers just a small taste of the day’s enjoyment.
The Rosegreen Players won the prize for the best float with their entry “Balls at the Dail” with Trevor Sergeant and Willie O’Dea as the ugly sisters while Mary Harney played the part of Cinderella, and all having a ball. (Who said Mary was in New Zealand?)
The parade included a total of 9 bands, a record for a St. Paddy’s Parade in Thurles.
St Patrick’s Day 2010 Parade Winners in Thurles
Overall Winner: Darmody’s Bar Littleton (Potholes in Ireland)
Best School Entry: Upperchurch National School
Best Traditional Irish Entry: Clonoulty and Rossmore Vintage Club
Best Float: Rosegreen Players (Balls in the Dail)
Best Float Runner Up: Tipperary Institute (Pacman & The Mario Bros)
Best Old Time and Vintage: Thurles & District Vintage Club
Best Local Club: Stakelums Hardware Social Club (Snow White)
Best Marching Band: Blarney Brass and Reed Band
Best Float Display Cabra Wetlands
Best Walking Group: The Special Olympics
Best Dressed windows 1st: Sammons Chemist Shop, 2nd: Virgo Liberty Square, 3rd: The Pike Take-away
Other Prize Winners were:-
Paddy Oz Style: Catch your own Leprechaun: World Taekwondo: Two to Avoid Potholes:The Order of Malta:Holycross Beavers: Thurles Gaels: Durlas Og: Thurles Brownies: Save the Animals:1932 Road Roller.
The youngest prize winner was Jordon Cullen, aged eight, with his creative theme “Save and Protect Wild Life.”
The committee would like to thank the following businesses for their sponsorship:-
Bookworm, Dew Valley Foods, Thurles Sarsfields, Dunnes Stores, Top Oil, Cleary’s Toys and Nursery, Pat Hayes (The Arch Bar and HQ Nightclub), and Thurles and Tipperary Institute.
Video Credits: B.Corbett, G.Willoughby
excellent job..well done on a very good edit…I didn’t see one refuse truck or lorry!
Hi John,
We didn’t have the usual boring fleets of commercial vehicles this year, people made an effort to be imaginative and put a bit of work into their floats.
Hi, lovely video, Jordon Cullen won a prize also a book vouchers. His theme was “Save and Protect Wild Life.” He is only eight and it was totally his own creation.
Glad you liked it Florence and well done to Jordan.