1946 Ford Anglia: part of the Vintage Display in the Inniskeen Parade Photo: © Michael Fisher

The highlight of the St Patrick’s weekend celebrations in Inniskeen near Carrickmacross in County Monaghan was the annual parade this afternoon. Participants and floats gathered at the chapel and made their way into the village, passing the reviewing stand set up near the community centre.

Corduff Pipe Band at the Inniskeen St Patrick’s Parade Photo: © Michael Fisher

All-Ireland pipe band champions Corduff Pipe Band were among three bands in the parade, along with Aughnamullen Pipe Band and the Stedfast Brass Band, which will be in Carrickmacross on Tuesday morning.

Plenty of vintage displays at Inniskeen St Patrick’s Parade Photo: © Michael Fisher

The organising committee encouraged all small firms and businesses in the area to participate with a float depicting their crafty ideas and efforts (advertisements etc). There is a prize on the day for the best float.

Monaghan SF Cllr Noel Keelan flying the national flag on his vintage tractor in Inniskeen Photo: © Michael Fisher

In conjunction with the weekend celebrations, the committee organised an art competition for the children of Blackstaff National School and Inniskeen National School with prizes for the best three entrants.  Any children who took part in the St Patrick’s parade were being encouraged to wear home-made or fancy dress costumes to illustrate the theme of leprechauns and fairies. There is a prize for the best costume.

Sean Conlan T.D. at the Inniskeen Parade Photo: © Michael Fisher

A Leprechauns Hunt was held on Sat 14th and there was an Art competition run through the local schools, St.Daigh’s National School and Scoil Cholmcille National School, Blackstaff, Inniskeen. In the Art Competition there were three categories – Jnr/Snr – 1st/2nd/3rd – 4th/5th/6th. There was a winner and runners up from each category. There were a great many entries for the Art competition, and Sarah Leddy (who herself, won the Overall Credit Union Art Competition) had a difficult task of choosing from all the entries. All winners from the Art competition, the Leprechaun hunt (Saturday) and winners of the fancy dress theme “Leprechauns and Faeries” who we hope will take part in the parade also will be announced on Sunday.

Slurry Spreader: part of Inniskeen’s St Patrick’s Parade Photo: © Michael Fisher