 in the county and this year again let a county chamber is hoping to make it a full-on celebration joined in studio by two members of the the committee, Leonard Watson and the ex-president of vanilla rabbit are you are you used to that description now the former president but i can't let go i can't let go particularly with the parade i so desperately wanted to be involved in it highland is actually sponsoring this year's parade so yeah the year first year after exactly it's like we're sponsoring i'm i i'm determined that you know the whole of dunny god just knows that i'm in control well that's uh that's from the ex-president now Leonard she's actually stole my line there was actually look my first line was i'm delighted to announce that highland radio are our main sponsors of our saint patrick's day parade um i'm the next president i'm not mistaken Leonard well we're thinking of maybe even throwing a coup in here like if you get through the back in here right well let's all start here then so anyhow um thanks for coming in uh the parade one of the biggest in the county obviously and it's great for the biggest in the country so biggest okay all right um well you respect biggest town i suppose biggest parade um and it's always a great day because see the ninflux and i've seen it year after year just the lead up to the parade and you see the line to traffic coming into the town people getting parked up families in particular um so you want the parade to be as big and as colorful and as joyful as possible you are john it's just a good family day's fun like you know a slight entertainment but you know what we've got a great mix and you know it's a real inclusive day it's all about bringing people together to celebrate our national day like so again like we've a lot lined up this year i've just looking there now parade starts at 3 p.m we've entertainment on the street from 2 p.m uh calum kevney's on the main stage we have the uk lily band outside me getting in we've got a french band i think there's 13 musicians on it outside blake's bar but then you've got all the local local teams sports groups community groups dance groups bands with rally cars vintage cars the the odd tractor probably thrown on there we have to work always the odd tractor but you know we're even still at this late stage where anybody who wants to take part in the parade or you know as part of a band part of a community group you know contact the chamber office and you know give them your details you know that's important and groups um whether you are part of a band or a football club or a community group whatever it is you know just come together and put your proposal to the chamber and get into the parade absolutely i mean the chamber runs this event really because it's not like if we make any money off it and sometimes people even ask why does the chamber get involved in it and the reason why we get involved is because it's such an amazingly fun day and it's so great to see the town full of families and kids and just the level of enjoyment off it is just fantastic last year there was cues around the corner for ice creams and sweets and all kinds of things so it's just fantastic people getting their photograph taken and our photo boots and that so what we really want is absolutely anybody to come together it doesn't even matter if you're not even like a formal you don't have to be a formal group if you're a formal club if you're kind of like a mummy's coffee morning you want to get together dress up throw you know a few colors on yourselves and get a few balloons and walk down we're delighted to highlight your group as well as a chance to get it you know hundred percent profile for them yeah absolutely we get loads of different you know there's some schools crushes clubs but anybody at all can walk together if you have a book club and you want to walk together get together if you're starting something and you'd like to get more people involved that this is a great way for the for people in the town and it surrounds to see that your club is up and going and to think to themselves oh god i'd love to do something like that maybe that would be fun we also can help people a small bit we're kind of constrained but we have the ability to help people and sort out some of their flows if they contact us earlier and we can help them as much as we can but really it's not even that you need a lot of stuff with you it's just you know get your get your streamers get your people out and get balloons dress up nicely you know dress up a bit of color and have a bit of fun that's what it's about it's all a bit of crack about a help available Leonard that's sometimes a criticism that's aimed at the parade and that you know why isn't it more arty why isn't it more like the one in Galway um but that comes a big expense than just the the budget wouldn't be there for to help to help groups like that would it John listen we a couple years ago we went and looked for something of these big characters and actually what they're going to cost us more than our whole budget so you attend they but I will I have to come in here and say the local again Highland reader or main sponsor but also local businesses have shown up this year again I would say we'll have sponsors from over a hundred businesses in the town which is massive local independent business shop local as a big one I would say but you know what and even then we have our local volunteers our local chamber all the members will be out on the day volunteering um there'll be bucket collectors on the day throw a few bob in the bucket does go to help pay for the paid paid costs absolute fortune to put on just with everything so but I have to say thank you to all the local businesses as well for the put their hand their pockets again and it all goes to help put it it's a great family day and you know what for now that's right come out and support you're you're giving back to your community too you'll come out be in the parade you know and just and there's not that many big family one-off family family days like this so it's an opportunity and an opportunity early in the year to you know bring the kids out watch the parade get some sweets along the way or as you were saying earlier there's plenty of activities on beforehand and even you know sometimes maybe to stay afterwards for yes there's always there's always something going on like to entertain well like we had we had one entertainer on the street last year um Orson I forget what his group's called but it was a viral sensation you know they dressed up as old people that had danced on the street absolutely massive on the internet so there's there's gonna be a couple of surprises here and there but as vanilla said to the photo booths the photo frame things that just family memories that's what it's all about and let's not forget it is a national day yes oh absolutely today to celebrate our our identity it is and I think traditionally if we all think back on St Patrick's Day what do you think about is going out with your parents going out with your family going down to the wherever you are the local praise going out exactly going down to the local parade seeing people dressed up getting involved in it you know kids love to be marching in it it doesn't matter what they're marching for it if it's a club or if it's a school or for whatever they just love to get involved in it and you always see loads of kids involved even in with organizations that aren't necessarily kids organizations but people bring their children with them for it and it's just lovely to see and like I said you don't have to go crazy with it it's more about coming having a good time you know dress up and nice bright colors and that kind of thing you know you don't have to be going mad get some balloons going few streamers whatever it is that people want to do and and just be part of it and show that you're part of the community and every year we're always really grateful as well we also have like the volunteer organization here in in Dunningall another Kenny they always come up and give us some give us a hand with being stewards and then they always have a group that marches in it's also a way for new residents in letter Kenny and in the surrounds to come and say we're here come and talk to us and come and meet us so that's a beautiful way of just showing the inclusion that is you know wonderful part of being living here in letter Kenny and Dunningall and the most important thing is if you are in the parade or if you're going to join the parade bring sweets the sweets aren't just for the volunteer but it helps yeah but also like to thank the local Gardie every year now in fairness there's a lot of organization and they they're never found wanting to they're always plenty of numbers in the street net they're always helping us out you know so again thank you to local Gardie Tula well it's it's tried and tested and it works well every year there's a lead up to it and it all happens you know comes together fairly quickly and then afterwards it's all you know the barriers come down and the traffic goes back to normal fairly quickly afterwards which is amazing given that when you go down the main street or wherever the size of the crowds but you know people drift off and then you know and business as usual and people get moving around as as as they normally would really quickly afterwards but it takes takes a wee bit of planning and effort that's a lot of planning like even there's some some days you look at half two before the parade you think and where's the crowd and then all of a sudden they just come from everywhere like last minute I says you know but it's thousands like you know but it's it's just a great as great family day and you what get out there and and you what and fairness me and Fennel had both dry days for Paddy's day so there's pressure now and Claire to have a nice dry day for hers to there yeah there you go because it's nice because like do I always look at it is this is the start of the summer you know we have a long long winter and obviously we've had a bit of cold and a bit of snow when we shouldn't have had it so I always think paddies that's the start of it there's suddenly kind of you know that's the last day that you're going to be wearing the coat you're going to step down then into your we've all had days we've been standing out of the parade hail showers or getting absolutely dry that's always a bit better this year we're building last year that was lovely last year was kind of warm last year wasn't it it was beautiful yeah all right if anybody's last thing thinking yeah maybe we could put in a float into the parade or just march in or you know walk in the parade just contact the chamber from where in full that's great thanks all right thanks absolutely take care thanks association was fun