CARLOW: CARLOW TOWN is rapidly turning green as shops, pubs and other businesses get decked out ahead of Wednesday's St. Patrick's Day parade next week.

Organiser Bríd de Róiste and her crew at Glór Cheatharlach has been working on the project for months and hope that this year's turn-out will be unprecedented.

The day kicks off with the tradition blessing of the shamrock at 11 a.m. Mass in the Cathedral after which assembly of those taking part in the parade will be at 2 p.m. in Penney's car park.

At 3 p.m., the parade will be led by a colour party drawn from the Reserve Defence Forces and Killeshin Pipe Band.

Following the route via Kennedy Avenue, Barrack Street and Tullow Street the parade will return to Plás na Saoirse for a finale.

Outdoor entertainment, in association with Dinn Rí, will help the party atmosphere while a céilí mór in Teach Oisín will bring the festivities to a fitting and traditional close.

A packed programme of entertainment is promised and all are invited to be part of the festivities.

Full details on Seachtain na Gaeilge and a free programme of events are available fron Glór Cheatharlach at (085) 1340047, (059) 9158105 or to download from www.glorcheatharlach.ie

BAGENALSTOWN

BAGENALSTOWN will be awash with all things green for its annual St. Patrick's Day parade next week.

'We've had a parade for years and every time it adds great excitement to the town,' Michael Lakes, secretary of the St. Patrick's Day Committee, said.

Over 40 floats, groups and businesses are expected to take part when assembly will take place after 12.30 p.m. on the Station Road.

The parade will leave at 1 p.m. sharp and will make its way down Church Street, the Royal Oak Road and then across the Long Range. After that, it's up Regent Street, past the reviewing stand opposite the Estoria and finally over to Kilcarrig Street.

The Killeshin Pipe Band will lead the whole shebang with a colour party from the RDF.

Straight after the parade, a children's show will be hosted by Nigel Tracey on the viewing stand. Also taking place is a talent show organised by the two youngest members of the committee, Dean Egan and Michael Cahill.

GRAIGUECULLEN

GRAIGUECULLEN St. Patrick's Day parade will be the first one out of the traps when assembly for those taking part will take place at 10 a.m. in the town park.

Club members, businesses, community groups and schools are all encouraged to take part in this year's shindig. The parade is expected to leave the town park at 10 30 a.m. and will wind its way up Sleaty Street, Duggan Avenue and Maher Road.

Then it's over to 98 Street, Malborough Street and Shaft Street before arriving at St. Clare's church for 11 a.m. Mass.

Anyone interested in taking part in the parish should get in contact with Graiguecullen Parish Centre on ( 059) 9141833.

MYSHALL

THE ST. PATRICKS DAY Parade committee for the parish of Myshall and Drumphea are busy making plans for this year's parade which is scheduled to start just before noon.

Plenty of fun and frolics are promised as the whole parish gets in festive mood to celebrate.

An Shamroig, or the Grand Master, for the parade will be Danny O'Neil while Parish Priest, Fr. Phil O'Shea, Rev. Lester Scott and Fr Brendan Howard PP. Ballon will be presented with Sprays of Shamrock at the reviewing stand.

The parade will be led by the Killeshin Pipe Band and it's also expected to have a colour party.

Residents around the parish are encouraged to display their flags and bunting and to wear shamrock, caps and scarves to make the event more colourful.

One of the real big hits with the parade is the national schools art competition where all pupils from Myshall, Drumphea and Garryhill schools enter and all the pupils work is put on public view in windows in the village.

All floats, marching groups and acts that are taking part are asked to be ready and in place at 11.30 a.m. at the Naomh Eoin GAA club house, where the parade starts from.

The parade will be judged and prizes for the best overall float, best walking act, best float and best marchers as well as the presentation of the art prizes.

The parade will end with some exceptional street entertainment of music song and dance, before the crowd high tail it to the nearest hostelries for tea and biscuits and a few schoops.

TULLOW

THE WHOLE community of Tullow is expected to line the streets come March 17 when organisers promise that the biggest and best parade ever will take place.

'Last year was our biggest parade ever and this year the interest is huge,' Laz Murphy, organiser and member of Develop Tullow Association, explained.

The Tullow parade always attracts plenty of vintage tractors and cars and this year will be no exception as enthusiasts have already put their name forward to take part. This time, though, special attention will be poured on the younger members of the community with special prizes awarded in the children's category.

The parade will kick off at 2 p.m. sharp after those taking part assemble 30 minutes earlier at Brophy Agri on the Bunclody Road.

The entourage will wind down the Bunclody Road, go over the bride and up past the viewing stand on the main square. Then it's up to Pairc Mhuire where it'll turn and make its way back down the town.

On the viewing stand will be Alec Paton and Mary Walsh from Develop Tullow Association, Monsignor Brendan Byrne and Fr. Andy Leahy, Reverend Orr and the usual smattering of local councillors.

Parking in the town will be restricted, though, and punters are advised to come early, park on the outskirts and follow the stewards' directions.

Business people in the town have thrown their backs into the project by decorating shop windows and premises in all things green and Irish while on the day, there'll be plenty of music and entertainment in the square from after mid-day.

Afterwards, youngsters can boogie the afternoon away by taking part in a junior disco in Fr. Murphy Hall while live music and entertainment is promised in the town's various pubs.

BORRIS

FOR THE First time in seventeen years, a St. Patrick's Day parade will make its way down Ireland's longest main street.

The people of Borris have come together to organise this almost historic event in the hope that it'll boost spirits in the community.

'We need to do everything that we can for the town,' Cllr. William Quinn, who helped organise the event, explained. 'The idea is to bring people together and let them enjoy the day out. But because we have the longest main street in the country, those taking part better like walking!'

Assembly will take place just before 2 p.m. at Borris Vocational School after which the parade will make its way down the Main Street. At the top of the town, it'll double back and make its return journey.

The committee has written to all the businesses in the area as far south as St. Mullins and Graignamanagh so a great crowd is expected.

'Everything is ready to go, all we need now is the weather,' Cllr. Quinn concluded.