St Patrick’s Day: ‘New Irish’ shoulder to shoulder with the old

The excitement was reaching fever pitch yesterday ahead of the St Patrick’s Day parade in Ennis, Co Clare, as a group of ‘new Irish’ Nigerians raised their voices to sing ‘Ireland’s Call’.

Posing for friends’ photos in the car park of Clare County Council, where parade participants were gathering, the group, decked out in their traditional African garb, could not hide their exuberance any longer and spontaneously began to sing “Ireland! Ireland! Together standing tall…”

Breaking away from the sing-song, Taiwoo Matthew said: “Today means everything to me. I am very, very proud to be Irish.”

Dr Matthew, part of the Association of the Nigerian Community in Clare group, said: “We are coming out today to identify ourselves as part of the ‘new Irish’. This is our nation and we are recognising today the sacrifices that people have made — especially in this very year celebrating the 100 years of the freedom of this State.”

Having lived in Ennis for the past 17 years, Dr Matthew said: “We are eternally grateful to those have made such sacrifices for Ireland’s freedom. The only thing we can do is to celebrate our nation, pray for our nation as a people of all races, all colours, all languages united in one.”

At the front of the building, the parade’s grand marshall, Patrick ‘Pakie’ Wall, was busy receiving a certificate of recognition from fifth class pupil Anna Whelan from Ballyea National School where Pakie attended from 1923 to 1931.

Pakie, 97, comes from Ballydineen, Kilmihil, in west Clare. He was selected as grand marshall following a nomination through Clare County Council for the oldest living Patrick in Clare to join mayor of Ennis Pat Daly in leading the parade in a horsedrawn carriage.

Before being led away in the carriage, Pakie said that he delighted to be chosen as grand marshall.

More than 10,000 people lined the streets of Ennis to give Pakie, and the more than 50 groups to participate in the parade, a great reception. The parade was light on floats but heavy on community involvement as groups from across the county took part. Some of the groups included Clare Youth Theatre, the Clare Older People’s Council, and the Ennis Brass Band.

One of the floats to feature was from Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, which was yesterday celebrating the return of the All-Ireland Fleadh Ceoil to Ennis, an event that is expected to attract 400,000 people to the town in August.

The fleadh was last held in Ennis in 1977 and an oversized fiddle, bodhrán, and concertina on the fleadh float announced the its return. Prop maker Tommy Casby was commissioned to design and construct the float.