Up to 30,000 people are expected to watch the St Patrick’s Day parade in Galway on Sunday, but it won’t be taking its time honoured route this year.
Most years the St Patrick’s Day parade begins at Fr Griffin road and makes its way up the pedestrianised town centre along Shop street.
However due to fears that street enhancement works could have been taking place on Shop Street this week, an alternate route was proposed when applying for the event license.
This year the parade will begin at NUI Galway and make its way along University Road, across the Salmon Weir Bridge and up Eglinton Street, and cross in front of the official viewing stand in Eyre Square before finishing at Prospect Hill.
The parade will kick of at 11:30am tomorrow, and is expected to finish by 1pm in the afternoon.
The changed route will result in Galway city’s St Patrick’s Day parade being slight shorter than normal this year.
A clearway will be in effect along the length of the parade route in areas like Eglinton street and motorists are advised that parked cars causing congestion will be towed.
‘Diversity’ is the theme of this year’s parade, and to celebrate the many groups that makes Galway what it is a mix of community, cultural and sporting groups will put on another fantastic spectacle for all to enjoy.
Heading up the parade will be guests of honour, Eoghan Clifford and Shane Curran. Eoghan is a former world champion paralympic athlete who has won Paralympic and World Cup gold medals.
The Galway-based cyclist amassed fifteen podium placings at major events during his career, including a Paralympic title, four World Titles and six World Cup gold medals.
Joining Eoghan is para-athlete Shane Curran, recently returned from the IWAS World Games in the United Arab Emirates in February with a silver medal in the shot putt.
As well as being a member of the Galway Speeders, he participates in many other sports including wheelchair hurling & basketball, para cycling and para rowing, having successfully competed recently at the National Indoor Rowing Championships recently in Limerick.
He was this year’s recipient of the special achievement award at the Garda Youth Awards.
Throughout the weekend there will be a fantastic line up of musicians on the Plaza Stage in Eyre Square from 2pm on Saturday.
This evening join Baile An Salsa as they blend their Latin American, European and American influences together to create a contemporary twist of traditional tunes with original compositions to create a full, fun and rich sound.
Before the parade on Sunday from 10:30am Mick Casey & Friends will get the crowd warmed up while waiting for the main event to arrive.
