Newbridge Parade Awards Night winners

A SENSE of achievement and joy was the overriding sentiment in Judge Roy Bean’s in Newbridge on Monday night, as the organising committee of the second biggest St Patrick’s Day Parade in the country held its awards night.

“Absolutely fabulous, it went unbelievable!” said the Chair of the committee Carl Murphy.

“There were prizes for the best floats, best shop windows, and best groups,” he said, and all the groups came dressed in their best attire.

“Everyone enjoyed it, and it’s great to be able to put on such an event that everybody came to – at least three-quarters of the town as you put it!” said Carl.

“The eight on the committee are absolutely marvellous to work with.

“It’s not easy putting on something like this, but we’ve got a good group, and it has definitely punched out.

“We are very into safety, and had 1,550 barriers in town – over a mile of barriers, and we’ll have to get more next year!

“I remember doing this when I was younger, and going to Newbridge Garda Station with a van and bringing 15 or 20 barriers, and then bringing them back later.

“Now you have a professional firm with 40 trucks and forklifts who arrive the night before and drop them throughout the town in bales of 40, and then the men from the company handing them out.

“They had great help from John Murray and his 30 Kildare Volunteers who were stationed at all the starting points – Tesco and Woodies for the walking groups, the heavy stuff at the back of Finlay’s.

“It’s tough, but as one man said to me they other day; ‘you’re getting better every time’.

“We want to get more floats, but don’t know how we’re going to beat 70!

“But we can’t get marching bands for love nor money, because they all go to Dublin."