Waterford parade impresses as thousands gather for Déise spectacle on city quayside
St Patrick was joined by the Absurdist Pipe Band in Waterford city's St Patrick's Day Parade. Photo: Joe Evans
Over 2,000 people participated in Ireland’s oldest St Patrick's Day parade. The first St Patrick’s Day parade was held in Waterford in 1903 and the theme of this year’s parade, 'St Patrick’s Day: Where it all began', was reflected in the historical allusions in many of the floats.
Particularly Spraoi, which featured a giant dragon float as a nod to St Patrick’s Welsh heritage.
Before the parade began, Sir Thomas Francis Meagher presented the Mayor of Waterford, Councillor Séamus Ryan, with the sword of Waterford.
One of the commentators for the parade, Dymphna Nugent, said that Sir Meagher was “looking very well for his age” at 203 years old.
Mayor Ryan told the crowd, “The parade here in Waterford is always a sight to behold and it is a pleasure to see so many of our friends, families and community groups coming together to celebrate our national holiday."
Described by Mayor Ryan as “an unsung hero of our community”, Dr Morgan McMonagle, a cardiovascular surgeon at University Hospital Waterford, was the Grand Marshal of the parade. This was in recognition of his humanitarian work in Ukraine, Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon.
As the sea of community groups approached the Mall, Dymphna Nugent said, “You can have your London’s, you can have your New York’s and your Dublin’s, but lads, there’s no place like home.”
Included in the parade were All Ireland club hurling champions Ballygunner GAA Club, Autism Friendly Waterford - the group behind Waterford’s accolade of being Ireland’s first autism friendly city, and the Mulcahy Bible Irish Dancing School - set up in 1952 and still run by Waterford legend Betty Bible Mulcahy.
Highlights of the parade included music from the Waterford Indian community, which was established in 2008, De La Salle football club, which celebrates 50 years this year, and dancing from Waterford’s Igbo community.
The dance performances from the parade did not disappoint. Waterford Panto society and Soul Dance Arts both put on spectacular dance routines and various groups, such as Spraoi and Waterford Youth Arts, improvised their dances with colourful costumes.
To top it all off, G-Force Taekwondo treated the crowd to a ‘smashing’ performance where members chopped wooden blocks with their hands and feet.
Winning entries in the Waterford city St Patrick's Day parade included:
Panagbenga Flower Festival
Samaritans Waterford; Waterford Centre of Music; Igbo Community; Roanmore GAA and Camogie Club; Pride of the Déise.
Congratulations to all!
