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Moment in Time: Great colour and atmosphere from Portlaoise St Patrick’s Day parade in 2008

A good vantage point at the Portlaoise St. Patrick's Day Parade. Picture: Alf Harvey.

The St Patrick’s Day committee in Portlaoise always pull out all the stops and it was no different back in 2008.

What didn’t they have?! Camels, horse-drawn carriages, drummers, old cars, new cars, Elvis impersonators and a whole lot more.

With glorious sunshine helping, there was a huge crowd in Portlaoise as the parade made its way around the town.

The crowds were five deep in places with tri-coloured hats, masks and various other get-ups on display.

Alf Harvey’s archives, as ever, throw up a wonderful set of images and many will find it hard to believe that ten years have passed since this day.

With groups from all the schools and sports clubs the younger generation were well represented but Portlaoise Tidy Towns also took part and fittingly they brought their wheelbarrows.

There was also a representation from the Durrow 300 committee who were that year celebrating a significant milestone in the town’s history.

Check out the best of them below:

Enjoying it all at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
The Marum family at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Part of the Kilvahan entry at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Well togged out at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Laochra Laois Special Olympics Club at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Parade watchers at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
A good vantage point at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
St. Joseph’s Accordian Band, Portlaoise at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Cllr. John Bonham assisting with the Durrow 300 Celebrations at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Members of the Durrow 300 Celebrations at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Members of the IGBO Community Ireland at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Members of the IGBO Community Ireland at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Enjoying the sunshine at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Eamon, John and Liam Oxley at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Thumbs up for the parade at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Drummers at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Fossey Springs came to town for the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
All smiles at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Elvis travels with style and security at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
A Kilvahan Horse Drawn Carriage at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.

 

Enjoying it all at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
The Reserve Defence Force at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Steward Jack Nolan MTC and Sgt. Syl Murphy at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Stafania Pikulski at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Shauna Kelly at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Rachel and Ruth Delaney at the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel 5K Fun Run.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Enjoying the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Enjoying themselves at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
An Irish Wedding Carriage with members of the Durrow 300 Celebrations at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
A Kilvahan Horse Drawn Carriage at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
A Kilvahan Horse Drawn Carriage at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Portlaoise AFC players at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
The Shanahoe Band at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Members of the O Leatlobair Clan at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Gael Scoil Phortlaoise at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Portlaoise scouts at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
A good viewing point at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Young rugby players at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Portlaoise Tidy Towns at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Scoil Mhuire, Portlaoise at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Johnny O’Brien who lead the parade waves to the crowds at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
A Kilvahan Horse Drawn Carriage at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Elvis travels with style and security at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
All smiles at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Fossey Springs came to town for the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Drummers at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Thumbs up for the parade at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Eamon, John and Liam Oxley at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Enjoying the sunshine at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Members of the IGBO Community Ireland at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Members of the IGBO Community Ireland at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Members of the Durrow 300 Celebrations at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Cllr. John Bonham assisting with the Durrow 300 Celebrations at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Part of the Kilvahan entry at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Well togged out at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Laochra Laois Special Olympics Club at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Parade watchers at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
A good vantage point at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
St. Joseph’s Accordian Band, Portlaoise at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.

SEE ALSO – What you need to know if you’re taking part in the Streets of Portlaoise 5k run

The Marum family at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Picture: Alf Harvey.

SEE ALSO – What you need to know if you’re taking part in the Streets of Portlaoise 5k run