In Pictures: Great atmosphere at Portlaoise St Patrick’s festival

There may have been no actual parade in Portlaoise for St Patrick’s Day but there was a two-day festival in the town that perfectly tapped into the mood for the national holiday.

With the Streets of Portlaoise 5K run making a return for the first time since 2019, the main street was closed off for the best part of the day.

The festival began in early afternoon with a range of activities on the main street.

The wonderfully entertaining Duck Race – a fundraiser for the Portlaoise Panthers basketball club – took place at the bottom of the town on the Triogue River, contributing greatly to the fun atmosphere around the town.

Club members sold ‘ducks’ for €5 apiece in recent weeks and hundreds of numbered plastic ducks were tipped into the river at the Bridge Street Centre before ‘racing’ under the bridges to the finishing point at opposite the church.

Supporters duly took whatever vantage point they could at either side of the river.

A couple of hardy club volunteers were kitted out and standing in the river to ensure all the ducks were duly gathered up and removed.

Up town, there was a selection of musical entertainment at different junctures, Irish dancing and carnival fare in the Market Square.

The festival continues today from 1-6pm.

You can check out a selection of images from Alf Harvey below.

SEE ALSO – Check out all our St Patrick’s Day coverage here