Castletownbere St. Patrick's Day Parade 2025

Castletownbere St. Patrick's Day Parade 2025, Thank you to everyone

Every St. Patrick’s Day, I walk up the town and I am always so proud of the Beara Community!! The turnout of floats are the best!!  I would firstly like to give a huge thank you to all who participated in the parade, while organising and event is a challenge, it would be of no use if it wasn’t for the work and effort that goes into each and every float, behind the scenes. You give up your day to decorate, organise and participate. Without your support there wouldn’t be a parade so for each one, who gives up their time and put so much effort into the day THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

I would like to thank Bere Island Radio for coming into the square to be part of the day. Always a lovely start to the day. It’s always a pleasure to listen to you every week but lovely to have you in Castletownbere on the day.

A thanks also to the members of the Castletownbere Development Association for the stage, and help Dorthy Brophy, Donal Kelly, Roz Williams for the video on Castletownbere development fb page

Donal Kelly, Lehanemore, for helping with organising the judges.

John Joe O Sullivan and Donal Dan O Sullivan who registered the floats.

Ivalo Linder our sound guy, thanks a mill for all your help sorting the sound system for the radio, the parade band etc. You’re a patient man and nothing is any trouble to you.

 Our piper Etienne Baranger who had led our parade for us for the last three years and is now living in Castletownbere.

Thanks to our the Gardaí, especially Garda Danny and Garda Iris for your help on the day.

 Well done to our stewards, Sean Cronin, Brendan Driscoll, Jimmy Murphy, Richie Sheehan, Vincent Murphy, Basil Murphy and Paddy O Sullivan  thanks a mill for your help ensuring the parade progressed through the town without a hitch.

Ecki Krupp and his band Garnish Sound for keeping us entertained. Thanks, a mill to all for you for your entertainment on the day. It was a fantastic show well done.

Amanda Cronin for giving out the medals to all the children on the floats.

I think the hardest job of the day went to our judges.

Brenda Burke  and Luc Racine who had a hard time picking the over all winner. They took a long time to deliberate and took their job seriously. I know you had a tough time making your final decision. Thank you for being so professional.

The following had donated to our usual raffle unfortunately there were no ticket sellers on the day so the prizes will be donated to another charity with permission form the donors.. details will follow.

I would like to thank Super Value, Monamar, Cottage Heights, Andy Hall Music, Anne Marie Cronin Photography for their sponsorship

A huge thank you to  Catcha Coffee, Patrice and Linda for their very important sponsorship coffee to keep us going!!

Until next year, Slán agus go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.

Anne Marie Cronin

Results of the winners of the Castletownbere St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Overall winner: Cahermore N.S.

Best Business Float: Dursey Boat Trips & Ryan Dudley Agri Hire and Gardening Work.

Best Commercial: Float MOWI

Best Voluntary Float: Adrigole Men’s Group, from The Caha Centre, Adrigole

Best Walking Group: RNLI

Best U13 Float: Bere Island N.S.

Best Effort: Scoil an Chroí Ró Naofa, CTB.

A few of my photographs sorry I couldn't get around to everyone, being MC means I had to hand over camera duty to my daughter Amanda and you have to agree she did a fantastic job!