Was St. Patrick’s Parade good this year?
Oskar | March 17, 2008In one previous posts I mentioned how great looked St. Patrick as young Robert de Niro. But well it was only last year. It seems that low dollar exchange rates are connected with saints as well, because this year’s Paddy impersonator was ‘bored and cheap’ version as well:
He was just the beginning of the parade, but showed the whole truth about the show we were to see.: cheap and boring. Some great (French) balloons, dozen of poor American marching bands. Fortunately, St Paddy gave us good weather this year.
Yeah the guy was awful just walked along with a sour look on his face, I wonder if he got paid? Who ever he was he shouldnt be allowed to do it next year.
Hiya,
Wasn’t that guy weird? According to the news, the official St Patrick of the parade was the giant float of the guy on a bike with “Paddy 2008″ on it! Even weirder…
As for the parade, I’m afraid I’m going to have to disagree with you Oskar! I loved it. Admittedly, it was my first in the city but I thought it was great. I really didn’t think it was “cheap and boring” – dozens of arts and theatre groups from across the county as well as students from some of our design colleges, had been working for ages to create those costumes and routines. But there was also international award-winning parade creations (the bees I think) and a really nice, multi-culti feel to the whole thing. Kids were beside themselves with excitement and, I think, at the end of the day, that’s the pay off.
But yes, I do think there were a few too many marching bands! As some one pointed out to me though, coming here was a really big deal to a lot of them and they were very nervous; you could see the concentration and excitement on their faces which I thought was lovely.
I guess I was just pleasantly surprised by the whole thing as so many people had told me to avoid town altogether.
PS – Were you at Pearl too? It was great, wasn’t it?
I would also disagree that the parade is cheap and cheerful, time machine back some 16 years and I might agree with you, nowadays the time and effort put in by so many people shows through in all the floats.
While I have my own complaints about the parade the quality of the participants isn’t one.
I’ve seen parade last year. It was much better, starting with Paddy, then watching all marching groups: more cities, more cultures, bigger orchestras. Lots of things one could see at funfair like brass band in white, St Patrick on the bike or monster holding the car. Flying balloons you could see during Pearl show.
I’m glad of weather this year. Last time it was not bad. Not sunny, but not rainy. The worst was 2 years ago. Cold, wind and rain.
I think it was (not just because I was a volunteer!) a great Dublin Parade and day out. There was a record number of spectators in attendance. The only bad feedback I got was that it was not Irish enough – too worldly?
I’d be interested to hear was people think about that as a view.
I didn’t like the parade this year. It used to be better with all the marching bands, where were they this year?
I think it was badly stewarded too. I mean the parade participants were practically walking on the toes of the spectators.
Ahhh maybe I’m just an oul grouch. At least the weather was good(ish)