THE Grand Marshall of this year’s Ennis St Patrick’s Day parade will be two time Grammy award nominee, Ennis’ very own Maura O’Connell.
Clare County Council are extending a warm welcome to all to gather in Ennis to celebrate our national holiday on Sunday, March 17.
Maura, of ‘Tumbleweed’, ‘De Dannan’ and ‘A Woman’s Heart’ fame, released her first solo album ‘Maura O’Connell’ in the early 1980s which was an eclectic mix of genres. Moving to Nashville in 1986 Maura went on to have a very successful career in the US releasing albums with Jerry Douglas and Béla Fleck and sharing the stage with many top artists such as Dolly Parton, John Prine, James Taylor, Alison Krauss, Kris Kristofferson, John Oates, Van Morrison and Bonnie Raitt.
Joining this year’s parade will be a delegation from Ennis’ twinning town in Germany, Langenfeld. The Mayor of Langenfeld Frank Schneider and members of the city administration and twinning committee will participate in the parade and experience St Patrick’s Day in Ennis.
MC on the stage which this year will be located in Abbey Street carpark will be Colum McGrath from Clare FM. Clare County Council have announced that re-parade entertainment will begin from 10.15am. Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann will perform on stage in Abbey Street carpark.
Scoil Ui Ruairc Irish dancing school will entertain on stage at Steele’s Terrace.
Participants in this year’s parade are being asked to embrace the theme of this year’s parade, ‘Remembering the Past – Embracing the Future’ which leaves loads of room for creativity.
The parade will begin at Áras Contae an Chláir at 11am and will proceed via New Road, Newbridge Road, Club Bridge, Abbey Street carpark, Bank Place and Bindon Street.
Additional parking will be available at the Courthouse until 2.30pm and Waterpark House Campus, Drumbiggle until 6pm. There will be disabled parking at Friar’s Walk carpark and the Courthouse, Lifford.
Roads being closed on a rolling basis include Steele’s Terrace/Newbridge Road (from Kelly’s Corner roundabout to the Club Bridge), New Road from its junction with Tulla Road to Newbridge Road, Dr Daly Road from its junction with Lifford Road and New Road, College Road (local access only), Mill Road in an easterly direction from the Maid of Erin roundabout to its junction with Bindon Street, Harmony Row, Abbey Street, Francis Street from Francis Street car park to Abbey Street, Bank Place, Bindon Street, Old Friary Lane. Diversions will be in place and pedestrian access will be available. The carpark at Áras Contae an Chláir is a drop-off for parade participants only.