Tens of thousands attended St Patrick’s Day Parades across the county last weekend, banishing from memory the Covid concerns that blighted last year’s trepidatious return to the annual tradition.

Up to 40,000 lined the streets of the city for one of the biggest parades ever staged in the county, while hoards gathered in towns and villages across Galway to celebrate the country’s patron saint.

Organisers of the Athenry parade reported “the biggest crowd for years” as spectators gathered from early morning to cheer on participants.

Crowds were up to eight-deep on Main Street and Society Street in Ballinasloe where local schools were to the forefront of the parade.

In Abbeyknockmoy, 20 groups made up the annual parade which organiser Thomas Quirke said had a “great turnout”.

“We were blessed with the weather – the rain held off and it all went off well. Roll on next year,” he said.

Other areas were less lucky with the weather, but participants and attendees alike were out in their droves for the festivities in Clifden, Oughterard, Moycullen, Oranmore, Gort, Headford, Dunmore and Tuam.

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