We’ll miss the St Patrick’s Day parades this year.
The outbreak of Coronavirus across the world has meant the widespread cancellation of almost all public gatherings.
But it’s still St Patrick’s Day this week and Tuesday will be a national holiday.
So to celebrate, we’ve decided to look back.
And we’ve once again dug deep into Alf Harvey’s archives to unearth some absolute classics.
We came across images of the 2003 St Patrick’s Day parade in Portlaoise, one that was blessed with good weather and a big crowd.
And there was a county-wide element to it too – with groups from around the county taking part.
Among those captured by Alf were the Ratheniska Foroige Club, the Timahoe Community Group, the Ballyroan Vintage Club – and a very lively looking float from the Castletown Inn.
In the year that the Special Olympics were hosted in Ireland, there was a strong representation from Laois Special Olympics – and Grand Marshall was Stephen Roche who would represent Ireland at the games later that year.
You can check out a selection of Alf’s great photos below which will no doubt bring some of those featured right down memory lane.
Aaron Brady, Stephen Hurley and Michael O’Toole at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Bronwyn Lowe and Claire McCarthy at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.A big thumbs up from Ricky O’Shea and Darren O’Brien, Portlaoise at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Portlaoise girls, Shauna Farrell, Ciara Delaney, Helen Fogarty and Shauna Slevin at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Teddy, Linda, Keith, Kirsty and Aisling Campbell at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Rachel and Alison Sothern with Laura Holohan at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Lauren Kavanagh, Abbeyleix at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Leading at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Grand Marshall Stephen Roche travelling in style at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Lining Main Street at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.The St. Joseph’s Portlaoise Accordian Band at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Some of the large crowds at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Joe Phelan at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Tara Kilkenny Roddy and Emily Allen, Portlaoise at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Down Main Street at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Getting in the spirit of it all at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Aoife Campion, Portlaoise at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Enjoying themselves at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Members of the Portlaoise Ethnic Minority Support Group at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.The Brookeborough Flute Band from Co. Fermanagh at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.All togged out for the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Taking it all in from the viewing stand at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Justin Keenan leading the Special Olympics group at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Performing for the viewing stand at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Mary Butler with ‘Ben’ at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Members of Portlaoise Gymnastic Club at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Margaret O’Brien performing for Portlaoise Gymnastic Club at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Portlaoise Girl Guides at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Ratheniska Foroige welcoming the Special Olympics at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Grainne O’Connor, Siobhan Delaney and Terence Delaney on the Timahoe Community float at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Enjoying themselves on the Castletown Inn float at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Knockmay Afterschool project pass the viewing stand at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Marion Garcia from Party Time at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.The Midland Region Hospital, Portlaoise Social Club float at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.Ballyroan Vintage members at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.
SEECrossing the finish line at the Portlaoise St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo: Alf Harvey.
