Free concert for St Patrick’s Day Parade revellers

Galway City’s St Patrick’s Day Parade will be followed by a free family concert again this year, following its huge success on its debut last year.

There will be more of an effort to bring out the big flags to Eyre Square this year following complaints from a number of councillors that the affair lacked a bit of colour in 2016.

However, any call on business to put out bunting would likely fall on deaf ears, after Councillor Niall McNelis (Lab) said many were struggling with rates and were unable to cough up the few thousand it would cost to erect them.

Some 1,000 performers and floats are to take part this year with up to 30,000 spectators expected. The theme of this year’s parade is the environment following the city’s designation of European Green Leaf 2017, the first Irish city to win it.

This year’s parade will assemble at Father Griffin Road before travelling from 11.30am via Lower Fairhill Road, Dominic Street, O’Briens Bridge, Shop Street, William Street, Williamsgate Stree, Eyre Square North and finishing at the start of Prospect Hill.

The free concert will then be staged on the viewing stand in Eyre Square between 1pm and 3pm.

Councillor Padraig Conneely (FG) said the city lacked the colour seen in Sydney, Tokyo or Hong Kong. He asked the Council erect the official flags in the Square to improve the atmosphere.

“I hope that Eyre Square will be cleaned, Around the Browne Door looks shocking. Eyre Square was a bit littered last year. I’d ask that business in the city would buy into it,” he told this week’s Galway City Council meeting.

Cllr McNelis (Lab) said it cost €1,500 to put up and take down bunting.

“Everybody should come out and support it, but at the end of the year businesses are struggling to pay their rates.”

Several councillors complained about the position of the reviewing stand as the invited guests were unable to view the parade.

Cllr Collette Connolly (Ind) asked if there was going to be a delayed opening to off-licenses like last year in a bid to thwart widescale public drinking.

The acting Senior Executive Officer for Community, Culture and Communications, Gary McMahon, said this was a voluntary decision of the off-licences.

He agreed with Cllr Conneely that businesses who benefit from the increase in customers on the day should put an effort to spruce up the city in green.

He said the Council would be putting in an effort to make the city look as colourful as possible.

The parade will cost €40,000 to stage, which is a reduction of €7,000 on last year when 1916 commemoration events were held.

The reviewing stand had not been cordoned off last year, which had restricted the view from it. This year that will be rectified, but the same stand will be used as it doubles as a stage for the family-friendly concert.