Nenagh St Patrick’s Day Festival praised, despite disappointment

Local representatives have praised Nenagh's St Patrick's Day Festival, despite disappointment that there was no parade held in the town this year.

Promoted by Tipperary Co Council in association with Spain AV, the Nenagh Live event featured a stage in the courthouse with music and dancing, and also stalls selling local produce. It was attended by around 4,000 people and was described as a success by traders that operated on the day.

But in a discussion about the festival at last week's meeting of Nenagh Municipal District, Cllr Séamie Morris noted how a lot of people were disappointed that there was no parade in Nenagh, and wanted to know why this was so. He said it takes a lot of work to organise a parade and he encouraged people to get involved if they want to bring the parade back, but warned it is “not simple”.

Cllr Morris praised the festival that was held in Nenagh last St Patrick's Day and said it was great to see so many young families in attendance. A lot of effort had gone into this event too and, “in my eyes, it really worked”, Cllr Morris said of the festival.

District Administrator Rosemary Joyce said the council would work with any committee with suggestions for holding a festival or event. While there had been a parade in Nenagh for 10 successive years before the pandemic, the opportunity for a “fresh look” arose this year and had proven very successful, with people visiting Nenagh Castle, Heritage Centre and Tourism Office as well as the festival.

Cllr Joe Hannigan also spoke of the success of the festival, and of Nenagh's parades over the years. Perhaps a committee would form with a view of organising a parade again next year, he suggested.

Cllr Hughie McGrath, who played a central role in reviving Nenagh's St Patrick's Day parade and running it in the years prior to the pandemic, hoped that the town would see parades again in future.

He congratulated Ms Joyce and all involved in organising the recent festival, and said the local community is fortunate to have the support of Spain AV, a local family business with great experience of events throughout the country and abroad.

Cllr Ger Darcy also praised the St Patrick's Day Festival.

He observed that it was the first time for many local people see the new tourist office.

He agreed that it can be difficult to get volunteers together to organise any kind of event. “It is the same people all the time, and fatigue sets in,” Cllr Darcy said.

But he added that the local authority works well with local groups and provides financial backing to help them get started with their endeavour, whether that is graveyard maintenance, Tidy Towns projects, or festivals.

TOURIST OFFICE OPENING

Ms Joyce thanked everyone involved in the Nenagh St Patrick's Day Festival, including MC Tom Bán of Nenagh Live, whom she mentioned has had his contract with the ‘Bush Kids’ RTÉ series extended for another season. She also commended Tipperary Fire Service's involvement in the festival, which included a demonstration of fire extinguishing.

On the subject of the tourist office, Ms Joyce said an official opening is planned for April. The new facility has been open since last December but Covid restrictions had delayed plans for the formal opening. Promotional drinking mugs with an “I love Naynagh” inscription have been commissioned and are to be available at the office.