2006 Archive
St. Patrick's Day Parade Galway 2006
Duelling stilters, a giant size bull, dozens of angry crows, an all new Galway pipe band, and visiting Celtic pipe bands - just a sampling of some of the highlights in store for this year's St. Patrick's Day Parade in Galway City!
Sixty groups will take part in what promises to be one of Ireland's best parades. The parade will start at the Fire Station on Fr. Griffin Road at 12.30pm on the 17th of March, and move through Dominick Street, over O'Brien's Bridge, through Shop Street, down Eglinton Street, ending up in front of the reviewing stand in Woodquay.
The themed part of this year's parade will tell the story of Queen Maeve and the Táin. This part of the parade will be directed by Morgan Cooke and Kelly McMahon. Cooke believes there is something special in store for the people of Galway:
"The emphasis will definitely be on noise and colour with our themed section this year', says Cooke, 'you can expect to see pompous pigs, angry crows, duelling stilters and a giant size bed with a bull's head! We aim to tell the legendary story of Queen Maeve and the Táin by putting the emphasis on fun and pageantry."
Cooke and McMahon will have no shortage of bodies to call upon in telling the story. The Galway Youth Theatre, Na Crosáin/Dordáin (from Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe), and the Galway School of Performing Arts, to name a few will take part to make this the largest themed section so far. They have also been assisted by Macnas and Galway Early Music.
The parade will also receive a shot of colour and music from other local groups such as Colours Street Theatre, Galway Circus Project, St. Patrick's Brass Band, Galway Musical Society, and many many more!
Visiting groups include St. Finbarr's Pipe Band from Cork City, Cercle Brizeau for Brittany and the Ulster Youth Ensemble. Other cultures in Galway will also showcase their finest song and dance tradition such as the Galway Filipino Society, the African Music Society and the Nigerian Association of Galway.
The parade will be led by the newly formed Galway City Pipe Band. For years Galway has been without a representative pipe band and finally this has been put to right by the establishment of this new group. In a break with the normal 'kilt uniforms' of pipe bands, the Galway City Pipe band will wear a costume more traditional to Galway, sponsored by Ó Máille's of High Street, with special emphasis on the tweed and woollen tradition of the Aran Islands.
This year's Guest of Honour will be Richard Donovan, the Galway native who has made a name for himself world wide as an adventure runner par excellence. Last year Richard completed a week long run from Malin Head to Mizen Head for charity and regularly leads marathon expeditions to the North Pole.
Further Information: Breandán Ó hEaghra, 087 6592405
Queen Maedhb to Rein on Galway Parade!
Morgan Cooke appointed artistic director
Galway City Council, 17th February, 2006 The director of the Galway City St. Patrick's Day Parade, Breandán Ó hEaghra, has this week announced that the 'themed section' will tell the story of Queen Maedhb and the Táin, and that the artistic director will be well-known Galway based artist, Morgan Cooke.
The 'themed section' has been the mainstay of the parade over the past few years and has been very popular with the Galway public. Last year's section, directed by Diarmuid de Faoite, told the story of St. Patrick himself, and included a 15-foot tall 'exploding Croagh Patrick'!
This year's artistic director, Morgan Cooke, is one of the busiest actors/musicians on the Galway circuit at the moment. Cooke says that he is relishing the challenge of directing the themed section and has a few surprises in store for the Galway public!
"Expect lots of mayhem!" says Cooke. "Expect to see a lot of unsavoury characters roaming the streets and the armies of Connaught and Leinster tearing lumps out of each other! The story of 'The Táin' is perfect for street pageantry with its emphasis on heroism and villany - not to mention the fact that it will include a great brown bull!"
Cooke expects up to 120 bodies to participate in the themed section of the parade and will, for the most part be drawing on established arts bodies in the city. He is also calling on individuals who are interested in participating in the pagent to contact the parade director with their details.
Director of the St. Patricks Day Parade, Mr. Breandán Ó hEaghra, highlighted 'energy' and 'vision' as the key attributes contributing to the appointment of Morgan Cooke as this year's artistic director of the themed section.
"Morgan has unbelievable energy', said Mr. Ó hEaghra, 'he must be one of the busiest artists in Galway at the moment between his acting and musical commitments. The themed section has become an integral part of the parade over the past number of years and there is no doubt but that the story of 'The Táin' gives the required amount of meat for mayhem!"
"Individuals interested in joining the themed section can contact the office here at 091 536829 or by email at breandan@galwaycity.ie," Mr. Ó hEaghra continued. "There is still time also for community or arts groups that wish to join the parade but we need to hear from them as soon as possible."
Further Information: Breandán Ó hEaghra
The Galway Parade
This years parade will take place on Friday, 17th March at 12.30p.m. The route will be announced soon.
Pipe bands, dance groups and performance artists come from all over the world to Galway each year to experience a parade that is widely regarded as one of the best in Ireland. The beauty of the Galway Parade is that it is small enough for group to truely feel a part of, yet big enough to create a special atmosphere. Up to 50,000 spectators line the streets each year and some of the narrow streets create an intimate cauldron that is an unforgettable experience for all participants. The Parade route moves through the centre of the medival City, a 1.5 mile journey through narrow cobbled streets, turning onto long wide streets. The Parade route is thronged with spectators from start to finish, creating a non-stop carnival atmosphere.