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Preparations are well under way for this year's St Patrick's Day festival parades in Newry and Downpatrick, with two community arts organisations playing central roles in bringing local people into the heart of the celebrations.
Beat Carnival and Down Community Arts are working with schoolchildren and residents across the district to develop floats and other parade content ahead of the 17 March events organised by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. A series of workshops are being held to give people a hands-on experience of float making and to increase community engagement ahead of the parades.
Beat Carnival is working with community groups in the Newry area. The organisation creates carnival arts and organises, produces, trains and develops artists, encouraging community participation, and has been involved in preparations for previous St Patrick's Day parades in the city.
Down Community Arts, based in Downpatrick, has played a pivotal role in previous St Patrick's Festival parades in the town. The organisation is working closely with schoolchildren to develop floats. Workshops in Downpatrick take place during the week for schoolchildren and at the Down County Museum every Saturday between 11am and 3pm until 14 March.
Council Chairperson, Councillor Philip Campbell said it was welcome news that local people were again central to the preparations. "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."
Cllr Campbell noted that the festival parades also deliver a significant boost to the local economy and signal the start of a busy period for the district. "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."
He added: "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."
The St Patrick's Day festival parades in Newry and Downpatrick attract thousands of visitors to the district each year and are among the most high profile events on the event calendar.
