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The Parade in Thurles was held on Sunday 21st March. Weather conditions on the day were excellent and this led to a great atmosphere in Liberty Square throughout the day. This was the biggest and best parade of all time held in Thurles. There were approximately 60 entries in a parade that was full of variety and colour. A total of 650 medals and over €3,000 in cash and prizes were handed out on the day. Congratulations are extended to all those who took part or helped out in any way. Our thanks go to the over 100 business people, clubs, schools, organisations and individuals for their sponsorship of the parade. The parade is organised by a sub committee of Thurles Town Council and this committee have been working hard since November 2009 raising funds and getting entries for the parade.

Parade 2010 & Gallery

Street entertainment commenced in Liberty Square at 2.20pm with some excellent music supplied by The Moynihan Brothers. Entertainment was also provided by a number of street entertainers. The very colourful stilt-walkers from Cork Circus, representing the four elements (earth, wind, fire and water), put on an exceptional show to entertain the crowds. The other street entertainers were Jack Flash (Juggler), Aussie the Emu, Hoppy & Presto, Face Painters and a Balloon Modeller. These all proved to be a great success with the huge crowd that assembled in Liberty Square.

A total of 9 bands took part, along with a number of excellent large and small floats, walking groups and vintage cars and tractors. The very large entry of motor bikes proved to be a great hit with everyone, as did the horse drawn carriages and the wild fowl and dogs from Templemore Gun Club. The parade was led by a colour party from the Local Defence Forces. The parade started on time and ran off very smoothly without any major delays. We had four Pipe Bands, two Brass Bands, one Samba Band, one School Band from Upperchurch and a traditional group of musicians from Clonoulty/Rossmore.

The overall winner of the Parade was the Darmody’s Pub entry from Littleton. Their entry consisted of a well decorated float pointing out that many of the pot holes on the roads are so bad that they could be used for fishing or for having a bath. The cup for the Best Marching Band went to The Blarney Brass & Reed Band. The Rosegreen Players won the prize for the best float with entry of ‘Balls at the Dail’ with Mary Harney as Cinderella and Trevor Sergeant & Willie O’Dea as the ugly sisters trying to get in to the ball.

Click here for the 2010 parade photo gallery...

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St Patrick's Day 2010 Parade Winners in Thurles

The Rosegreen Players won the prize for the best float with their entry “Balls at the Dail” with Trevor Sergeant and Willie O’Dea as the ugly sisters while Mary Harney played the part of Cinderella, and all having a ball. (Who said Mary was in New Zealand?)

The parade included a total of 9 bands, a record for a St. Paddy’s Parade in Thurles.

Overall Winner: Darmody’s Bar Littleton (Potholes in Ireland)
Best School Entry: Upperchurch National School
Best Traditional Irish Entry: Clonoulty and Rossmore Vintage Club
Best Float: Rosegreen Players (Balls in the Dail)
Best Float Runner Up: Tipperary Institute (Pacman & The Mario Bros)
Best Old Time and Vintage: Thurles & District Vintage Club
Best Local Club: Stakelums Hardware Social Club  (Snow White)
Best Marching Band: Blarney Brass and Reed Band
Best Float Display Cabra Wetlands
Best Walking Group: The Special Olympics
Best Dressed windows 1st: Sammons Chemist Shop, 2nd: Virgo Liberty Square, 3rd: The Pike Take-away
Other Prize Winners were:-
Paddy Oz Style: Catch your own Leprechaun: World Taekwondo: Two to Avoid Potholes:The Order of Malta:Holycross Beavers: Thurles Gaels: Durlas Og: Thurles Brownies: Save the Animals:1932 Road Roller.

Click here to see all the winners from the 2010 & 2009 parades.

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Parade 2009 & Gallery

Street entertainment commenced in Liberty Square at 2.30pm with music by local musicians Joe Brennan & Celtic Swing. Entertainment was also provided by the street entertainers:- Bob the Builder, Garda Giggles, Tigger, The Stilt-walkers, Jugglers, Face Painters and the Balloon Modeler. These all proved to be a great success with the huge crowd of over 7,000 people that assembled in Liberty Square to watch the parade.

We would like to thank the many business people, clubs, schools and organisations for their generous sponsorship of the parade. A total of 10 bands took part, along with a number of excellent floats, walking groups and vintage cars and tractors. We had four Pipe Bands, two Brass Bands, one Samba Band, one Accordion Band, one School Band from Upperchurch and a traditional group of musicians from Clonoulty/Rossmore.

Click here for the 2009 parade photo gallery...

Where is Thurles?

Thurles is situated in the heart of county Tipperary,Ireland and is one of the most central towns in the Irish Republic.

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