Towns’ ‘green armies’ prepare for war

Top hats and green waistcoats will be de rigueur in the West Cork town of Bandon and Donegal town of Glenties this St Patrick’s Day, as hundreds of “leprechauns” arrive to break the world record for a gathering of the Little People.

A number of octogenarians and several babies have already signed up to the bid in Bandon, which requires participants to wear a specific uniform of green top hat, beard, green waistcoat or frock coat, black, green or red trousers, and appropriate footwear.

“We’re encouraging people to make big buckles out of tinfoil and to attach these to their shoes,” says Rachel McCarthy, chairwoman of the St Patrick’s Day Parade and one of the organisers of Bandon’s Guinness Book of Records bid.