City washes away flood woes with maritime celebration

IF Captain Hook represented the recession, he was well and truly chased out of Cork yesterday as 60,000 people put the economic woes behind them to watch the St Patrick’s Day parade.

There may have been grey skies, but the rain held off as 2,100 people took part in a colourful procession that wound its way through the city for nearly two hours.

The children’s favourite attraction proved to be a 40ft crocodile made by Waterford Spraoi, which helped Peter Pan chase the infamous fictional pirate from the banks of the Lee.

However, the judges’ nod for best entry went to the My Cork Polish Association’s colourful boat, which matched this year’s theme of the city’s maritime heritage.

The spectacle was led off at 1pm by the band of the First Southern Brigade followed by fellow Defence Forces personnel. A big cheer greeted Grand Marshal Lisa Cummins, the only Irish person to swim the English Channel back and forth. “It was a huge honour to be Grand Marshal. There was a fabulous turnout,” she said.

Lord Mayor Cllr Dara Murphy said there was an excellent atmosphere.

“It’s appropriate we are celebrating our maritime culture and that we put the floods of last November behind us.”