Community Relations Unit OFMDFM

Design: Activeware

FESTIVAL NEWS - 6 February 2009

Cross Community parade set for ‘The Sun, Then Moon and The Stars’
The St Patrick’s Day Cross Community Carnival Parade in Downpatrick is one of the highlights of Down District Council’s annual St Patrick’s Festival, which will be held this year from Monday 9th to Tuesday 17th March.
 

The theme for this year’s parade is 'The Sun, the Moon and the Stars' marking the United Nations International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009), which is in celebration of 400 years of astronomical endeavour and discovery following the observation of Galileo and his scientific achievements, and which is being marked by a number of events throughout the Island of Ireland on St Patrick’s Day.

The parade will be held in Downpatrick on Tuesday 17th March 2009 at 2.30pm and the event is once again expected to be a colourful cavalcade of floats, people in fancy dress, and various other entertaining attractions interspersed with music from around the world.

 

With just five weeks to go to the parade, Down District Council wishes to remind interested organisations that the closing date for parade entries is Friday 27th February 2009.

 

Community, voluntary, statutory and commercial organisations can take part in the cross-community parade by:

• entering an entertaining float, vehicle or attraction in the parade, or;

• walking in the parade in fancy dress, traditional costume or club colours.

 

Non-commercial groups entering the parade will receive an attendance fee of £100.  All parade entrants will receive refreshment vouchers.  £200 will be awarded to each of the five best group entries in the parade. The parade will assemble on the Ardglass Road from 1.00pm and will depart at 2.30pm along Edward Street, John Street, Irish Street and Market Street to the finish area in Market Street Car Park.  It is estimated that the parade will arrive in the town centre at approximately 2.50pm.

 

All road junctions and exits/entrances along the parade route will be closed to traffic from approximately 2.00pm and will reopen at approximately 4.00pm. Further information about the parade, including rules and conditions of entry, and entry forms, can be obtained by contacting: The Community Relations & Development Section, Down District Council, 24 Strangford Road, Downpatrick, Co. Down BT30 6SR, telephone: (028) 44 610853.

 

The closing date for the receipt of entries for the parade is Friday 27th February 2009.

Down District Council wishes to acknowledge the financial support it is receiving towards the parade from the Community Relations Unit, OFMDFM.