‘Positivity’ Was Right – St.Patrick’s Day Parade

Cobh's own St.Patrick - Joe Devlin

Positivity was the theme for this years Cobh St.Patrick’s Parade on Thursday and the people of Cobh really took up the challenge. Hundreds, lined the streets to watch the very imaginative and colourful parade which took approximately forty minutes to pass the stand outside of the GPO where Claire Cullinane took charge of the MC for the event.

In beautiful sunshine the parade, lead by the Cobh branch of O.N.E, followed by Cobh Pipe Band left ‘The Bench’ on time at exactly 3.30pm. As usual Cobh’s own Joe Devlin was the focus of many as he diligently carried out his duties as St.Patrick. Over the years Joe has made this role his own with his dedicated and professional approach. Hendrick Verwey of Cobh Tourism told Cobh Edition ‘We’re delighted to have Joe take on this role again. As you can see for yourself he really gets into the part’.

The three groups of See You in Cobh, Cobh Tourism and Cobh Tidy Towns Committee joined forces to organise this years Parade and in view of the economic situation and to encourage maximum participation there was no entry fee and no financial contributions were sought from the business community. The groups hoped that imagination, colour and a huge participation would make us all feel positive and that the Parade would be the best seen in Cobh for many years! Well, they certainly got that right anyway with businesses like Cobh Power Washing Service, Securitas, Ted McSweeney, Supermacs and Murphy’s Centra,and  Sporting clubs like Cobh GAA, Cobh Pirates, Ramblers Schoolboys, along with other community and cultural groups all taking part.

Cobh Credit Union also announced the winners of their members draw with the first prize of a new car going to Sheila O’Reilly. Second prize of a cruise went to Michael McCarthy, Tay Road and third of a holiday valued at €2000 went to Niamh Amphlett.

Cobh Tourism’s Hendrick Verwey told us ‘All of the organising groups of this years parade are delighted with the way things turned out and would like to say a big thank you to all those who took part in the parade. We would also like to thank the people of Cobh for turning out in such large numbers to watch the parade pass. We cannot of course forget the tremendous cooperation of Cobh Gardai and all others who made today what it was.  We now look forward to another successful parade in 2012’.

The organisers would also like to thank the Port of Cork for the use of the crowd control barriers, Con Dennehy & Co. for the use of the trailer as a Reviewing Stand, Cobh Town Council for the Road Closures and the people of Cobh for their participitation and support.

Our own personal opinion at Cobh Edition is that this was the best St.Patrick’s Day parade the town has seen in many years and we look forward to next year. Also well done to Cobh Hospital for winning this years Best Float.

One of our favourite pics of the day - A young member of Cobh Pipe Band gives the salute on passing the stand

As usual, the Rebel Riders were out in force