This appeared on another list, but it is too good not to pass on --- proving, once again, it is hard to "dampen" Irish enthusiasm! > Thanks to the Genealogical Society of Ireland <GenSocIreland@iol.ie> for > this news item: > > > HEAVY RAIN FAILS TO SPOIL THE PARADE > > Ireland's only Fourth of July Parade went ahead on Thursday evening in Dún > Laoghaire despite calls for its cancellation due to the terrible weather > conditions. Bands, marching groups and floats headed by the Irish Air Corps > Pipe Band and a Colour Party drawn from the Irish Army Reserve battled > through sometimes heavy downpours to march the full length of the Parade > route through the Town of Dún Laoghaire. > > The Town's dignitaries too braved the rain with Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Betty > Coffey, MCC insisting to complete the entire route on foot from the "Top Hat > Corner" through the Town centre, down on to the seafront and up Marine Road > where she and the other digitaries, including Cllr. Gary Jones, Deputy Mayor > of Holyhead; Cllr. Dónal Marren, Leas-Chathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire > Rathdown County Council; Mr. Hilary Hayden, President of the Dún Laoghaire > Rathdown Chamber of Commerce; Mr. Jeff Evans, Welsh Joint Chairperson of the > Holyhead Dún Laoghaire Link Organisation; Mr. Seán Kane, FGSI, President of > the Dún Laoghaire Active Retirement Association; Mr. Dónal O'Neill, > Blackrock Chamber of Commerce; Mr. Logan Raju, Mayor of Blackrock and Mr. > Breasal Ó Caollaí, Secretary of Dún Laoghaire Business Association and Irish > Joint Chairman of the Holyhead Dún Laoghaire Link Organisation reviewed the > Parade. > > Walking with An Cathaoirleach this year was the "Grand Marshal of Dublin's > Riviera" Fr. Seán Cassidy, CC, who received a civic recognition award in > recognition of services to the community at the Civic Reception held in the > County Hall on Wednesday attended by the American Ambassador, Mr. Richard > Egan. Fr. Seán, in true style, donned the formal attire of an early 19th > century priest - dress coat, high stiff collar and top hat. > > Marshalling nearly five hundred participants was a mammoth task undertaken > with great efficiency by Mr. James McSharry and his team from Ógra Fianna > Fáil who, regardless of the appalling conditions, managed to get the Parade > underway with only a nine minute delay. All along the route of over a mile > An Gárda Síochána were assisted by the parade stewards drawn from the newly > formed Dún Laoghaire Town FC who became Dublin's Riviera "Blue Caps" under > the direction of the joint Captains, Ian Kane and Abraham Wahid. This > football club brings together local lads and the "New Irish" from the > immigrant communities in the Town of Dún Laoghaire, indeed, of the thirty > "Blue Caps" assisting An Gárda Síochána about half were girls and boys from > the local hostel. The young "Blue Caps" were delighted to see many of the > dignitaries in the Parade also sporting their distinctive Dublin's Riviera > "Blue Caps". > > Though for parts of the length of the parade route the numbers of spectators > was disappointing, this soon changed with crowds four deep at the Dún > Laoghaire Shopping Centre and on the Pavilion Complex promenade. Good humour > and a joyful disregard for the weather was the order of the day with the > very young and extremely enthusiastic Red Rosettes II Majorettes from > Loughlinstown giving encouragement to all as the danced in the rain to the > tunes of the Tallaght Youth Band. The multicultural flavour of the event > was highlighted by the Éigse Laoghaire group with over twenty different > nationalities represented in this colourful "Rio" style marching group led > by the well known local artist Veronica Heywood and her dog "Domi". Waving > flags and banners of many colours to signify unity in diversity this group > kept in tune with the very professional Clondalkin Youth Band leading this > section of the parade. > > The County Council provided the ever popular "Thomas the Tank Engine" which > was filled to capacity with possibly the youngest and bravest of our > participants who shrugged of the wet conditions to simply enjoy the occasion > as did the young members of the Dramtech Group who marched hand in hand > taking in the atmosphere of a great occasion for all participants. A clown, > "Stilt Man" and "Batman" moved through the groups entertaining all, > sometimes chasing two "escaped convicts" in white overalls and chains. The > real American flavour was supplied by the folks of the GTI Café Bistro as > "Uncle Sam", a very large "Chicken" and a very popular "Cheer Leader" who > kept the sometimes sparse crowds in the party mood. > > Cathy O'Brien and Fran Jenkins of the Dún Laoghaire International Horse > Committee had a float packed with cheer leaders advertising the upcoming > Horse Show on the August Bank Holiday. > > It was certainly the day for the motor enthusiast with many vintage and > veteran cars, classic American automobiles and the roar of the "hogs" or > Harley Davidson Bikers all providing a unique display in the Town. Mr. Rónán > Walsh of the Royal Marine Hotel provided refreshments at the end of the > Parade for the drivers of the cars and bikes who lined-up to exhibit their > vehicles in the Hotel carpark. > > The depth of the link between Ireland and USA was certainly evident on > September 11th last with the loss of so many Irish Americans, many hundreds > in the NYPD and New York City Fire Department and Thursday's event reflected > this link though the participation of the Dublin Fire Brigade Pipe Band and > a Fire Tender in the Parade. > > The Army Reserve, formerly known as the FCA, had a contingent of troops > participating in their new uniforms for the first time on parade in Dún > Laoghaire under the direction of Comdts. Byrne and Holahan. Indeed, another > first for Dún Laoghaire was the appearance of the Irish Prison Service Pipe > Band in our Fourth of July Parade, joining the other bands each leading a > section of the Parade which stretched the entire length of George's Street - > Dún Laoghaire's main street. > > At the end of the Parade all the participants were treated to refreshments > in the Dominican Convent School and the Dún Laoghaire Club supplied by Coca > Cola Ireland, Weirs, Dunphy's, Costello Flowers & Jewellers, McDonald's and > the Miami Café . The task of feeding this multitude was made all the easier > by volunteers under the direction of Margaret Browne in the Convent and Lori > Kelly in the Club. > > Started in 1997 and lapsed since 1999 due to roadworks in the Town Centre - > Ireland's only Fourth of July Parade is most certainly back on the road as > an annual event in Dún Laoghaire on Dublin's Riviera. Next year the > organisers hope to hold the Parade in the Summer!!!! > > > > >