Community groups step in to organise Paddy’s Day

BUSINESS groups around the country are taking a step back from St Patrick’s Day parades this year, spurring community groups to organise and fund the festivities.

More and more local chamber of commerce groups are cutting their ties with this year's parades on March 17, favouring more community-driven exhibitions with less commercial and industrial trappings. As a result, many parades have been scrapped, in favour of music festivals and cultural events.

As Dublin gears up for week-long festivities beginning on March 11, those attending parades in many of the country's smaller cities and towns can look forward to more community and club-driven floats and a lot less cavalcades of cars, trucks and commercial displays.