Community Groups and Schoolchildren Preparing for St Patrick’s Festival Parades

Two community-based arts organisations are playing key roles in preparations for St Patrick’s Day festival parades in Newry and Downpatrick.

Down Community Arts and Beat Carnival are supporting the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council events by working with schoolchildren and residents to develop floats and other parade content ahead of the annual 17 March spectacular.

The high profile flagship festival parades, which are a cornucopia of colour, glitz and razzmatazz, attract thousands of visitors to the district, allowing Newry and Downpatrick to showcase what they have to offer on one of their busiest days of the year.

The arts groups are hosting a series of workshops to enhance the level of community engagement ahead of the festival parades, allowing people to get involved in a hands-on experience making floats.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Philip Campbell said, “It’s great news that local people are once again at the heart of the preparations for the district’s St Patrick’s Festival parades.

“The events continue to grow in popularity, attracting thousands of people to our area. The parades are a great day out with all members of the family able to join in the fun and there is a real festival atmosphere in Newry and Downpatrick.”

The Council Chairperson said the festival parades also provide a major boost for the district’s economy and herald the start of another busy time.

“Easter festivities follow soon after St Patrick’s Day and then we are into our busy spring and summer events programme across the district which will be alive with activity, showcasing all we have to offer in this part of the world,” said Cllr Campbell.

“For now, the focus is on St Patrick’s Day and we hope the weather will be favourable to show off the many spectacular floats which are being carefully crafted by residents and other groups across the district.”

Based in Downpatrick, Down Community Arts has a wealth of experience and played a pivotal role in previous St Patrick Festival parades in the town, and is working closely with schoolchildren, developing eye-catchingly spectacular floats.

The Downpatrick workshops take place during the week for schoolchildren and at the Down County Museum every Saturday between 11am and 3pm until March 14.

Beat Carnival, which is working with community groups in the Newry area, creates carnival arts and organises, produces, trains and develops artists, encouraging community participation and ambition and has been involved in preparations for previous St Patrick’s Day parades.