Parade returns to Doonbeg after 50 years

DOONBEG will host the village’s first St Patrick’s Day parade since the 1950s on Sunday, March 18.
The recently established Doonbeg Enterprise Group is behind the parade’s revival, which will be led by Mayor of Doonbeg, Padraic Haugh.
Tommy Comerford is the co-ordinator of Doonbeg Enterprise Group and recalls a time when St Patrick’s Day parades were a regular event in the village.
“We had a fife and drum band with about 20 members. It was unique that time to have such a band. The FCA were also very strong at the time. There was a lot of local recruitment so we used to have a big parade of all the FCA personnel. The parade was mainly made up of that,” he recalled.
The organising committee came up with the idea in an effort to take some proactive steps to help reinvigorate the local economy. There are four public houses and two shops in the village.
“That’s what we’re trying to get across; that we retain the structures in the parish and keep our businesses open. We decided to bring together a group of people to discuss positive issues. We came up with several points but one of the things that came out of our meeting is that we should hold a St Patrick’s Day parade. What we’re hoping to do is to showcase all the groups in the parish. We’ve about 14 groups working on different things in the parish. We want to showcase what they’re doing and they’ll all have a float,” Tommy Comerford explained.
All five parish primary schools will also take part, as will Carrigaholt National School, while groups from Kilrush and Kilkee will be invited.
Tommy Comerford is hopeful the parade might also attract visitors from outside the community and aid the local tourism industry.  
“That’s another aspect. We want people to come into the village just to show that we’re alive and well in Doonbeg,” he said.
St Patrick will accompany Padraic Haugh, in a horse-drawn carriage, at the top of the parade.
People participating in the parade on March 18 are asked to assemble at Doonbeg Church from 11am. The parade will depart at 12 noon.