THE EXTRAORDINARY WORLD OF ST. PATRICK’S FESTIVAL PARADE 2010
Streets of Dublin come alive on St. Patrick’s Day
Wednesday 17th March, Dublin, Ireland
Press release
March 2010
Our national celebration, St. Patrick’s Day is one of the highlights of the year for the Irish and those who wish they were Irish! And all the Irish eyes will be looking at the world famous St. Patrick’s Festival Parade, taking place on Wednesday 17th March through Dublin city centre.
Our national day has become a worldwide celebration in many major cities across the globe and no more so than in our capital city. Wednesday 17th March will see the streets of Dublin transformed with the thousands of performers, characters and spectators that will take part in the greatest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the world.
The theme for this year’s Festival Parade is ‘The Extraordinary World’ which has been interpreted by many street theatre pageant companies and will see an estimated 3,000 performers take to our streets. Uniquely commissioned and original pageants, performers and marching bands from all corners of the globe will wow some 650,000 people that are expected to line the 3km route, not forgetting the many millions more who will tune into the RTE 1 TV broadcast and the live RTE web-stream.
Providing live commentary along the parade route is sports presenter, Des Cahill and presenting the Festival Parade live on RTE 1 is Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh and Aidan Power.
Leading the parade as Grand Marshal this year will be International Soccer legend, Packie Bonner who is recognised as one of the finest contributors to Irish sporting history. Packie made his international debut on his 21st birthday in 1981 against Poland and went on to write his name into Irish football history on many occasions over the next 13 years and became first choice for Ireland winning 80 caps
As Grand Marshal, Packie will begin his honorary duties on the day with a VIP celebratory breakfast in The Marks and Spencer’s Rooftop Restaurant on Grafton Street. From there he will be chauffeur-driven to the start of the Parade on Parnell Square to begin the journey through the heaving city streets. Once he has travelled the 3 km route he will finish up his day as the guest of honour at an official VIP lunch.
Eight pageant groups from Ireland and beyond will make up this year’s Festival Parade, which will wow some 650,000 people, each featuring their individual interpretations of ‘The Extraordinary World’ theme, transforming our capital’s streets into a kaleidoscope