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St Paddy's Day
In Galway, Ireland, 2013

The St Paddy's Day Parade in Galway is a blast. 

Young Galway Community Circus artists showing off their skills.

This town is famous for its' Arts Festival parades that are brought to life by street theatre group Macnas with their original themed street drama pieces.

This culture 'rubs off' on St Paddy's Day parades. Anything goes, and everyone has fun. I am sure you will agree when you see the photos below that these parades are a far cry from what they were even twenty years ago with one school marching band after another playing tin whistle tunes, interspersed by some floats with formal, stiff content.

These days, community groups, charities, sports clubs and interest groups all contribute to the parade. The contributors a a very varied bunch. Their agenda of course is  to get seen.  But the underlying culture is to make the parade a fun eventwhere you attract attention by being original.

Tom Duffy's Circus parading their horses.

...while street artists interact with the audience to create a great atmosphere...

...some theatre people posing as Claddagh fishmongers trying to sell their fish to the revellers...

...and kids of all ages watching and enjoying themselves...

...some boys getting a bit tired here with all the marching...

...but the audience is cheering them up...

...some more traditional contributions work well when they are interspersed with all the fun stuff...

...flags for different nations to show how multicultural Galway has become...

...a memorial to Jim Larkin coming to life holding speeches to the audience...

...followed by some medieval Galway Norman knights...

...and community groups advertising and showcasing their work...

...and everyone loves green today...

...Get your Irish flags out...

...or dress up really colourful, whichever you prefer...

...watch the dancers and have fun...

Another boat, faithful to the Galway maritime theme.

And when the marching was all done I met some gentlemen form a  marching band enjoying a quiet pint and having their St Paddys Day lunch at a nearby hotel as town started to buzz.

Hi there, you liked our article on St. Patrick's Day in Galway, Ireland? These parades are so much part of Irish culture- we had to show you!

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Thanks a million, and warmest regards from Susanna and Colm!

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