Tipp parade given back to the people
The people of Tipperary town are pulling out all the stops this year to extend a Cead Mile Failte to visitors to the town for their St Patricks Day celebrations.
Last year the festivities in the town were marred by horrific scenes of violence and this week the organisers of this years St Patricks Day Parade and the towns mayor has issued an open invitation to people to visit the town to enjoy the occasion this year.
"We want to put what happened last year behind us, next Wednesday we will celebrate what Tipperary and its people are all about, we hope to have a great day here in Tipperary," said Cllr.Mary Swords the towns mayor.
"What happened last year is over, we have a tremendous community spirit in the town and that will shine through, we want to give St Patricks Day here in Tipperary town back to the people," said parade organiser Cllr.Mary Tuohy Halligan who was mayor of the town last year.
St Patrick's Day in Tipperary Town last year was hijacked by what was described as a Circuit Court judge as 'wanton thuggery' by four men involved in vicious attacks that left six innocent people injured.
Among the victims was a young American lawyer who was savagely attacked. Earlier this month four men responsible for the violence appeared before Clonmel Circuit Court and were given sentences ranging from ten years to three years.
Judge Thomas Teehan said the men had caused "untold fear among the ordinary and decent citizens of Tipperary Town on a day when families gathered for what they hoped would be a joyous day out but what occurred was the very antithesis of that."
This week Cllr.Anna Tuohy Halligan was busy co-ordinating the preparations for this years St.Patrick's Day even in the town with her hard working committee.
She believes that the town will use the occasion next Wednesday to well and truly banish the memories of what happened in the town last year.
"We want people to enjoy themselves on the day, we hope people in the town and all of the communities of West Tipperary come and spend their national day of celebrations here with us in Tipperary town," said Cllr. Halligan.
This year's parade will start from The Plan at 2.30pm and will continue down the town past the review stand between the two banks.The Austrian Ambassador to Ireland Walter Hagg will be the special guest of honour on the day and among the international visitors to the town will be friends from Mautern, one of Tipperary's twin towns. There will be over five hundred children taking part the parade which will be led by the CJ Kickham Band.
Cllr. Halligan said she believed that because of the way the culprits of last years violence inthe town were severely dealt with in the courts a message had been sent out that such behaviour was unacceptable and the consequences of engaging in such anti social behaviour would be very severe.
"It is unfortunate what happened.The good name of Tipperary took a battering as a result of the activities of a very small minority.the town of Tipperary has suffered but it has been dealt with in the courts now and it is all behind us now," she said.
Cllr.Halligan said everybody in the town was looking forward to an enjoyable day.
"We cannot allow anybody to ruin the day again, the parade and the day belongs to the people of the town and they will have it back this year. There is a tremendous civic spirit in the town and if anything what happened last year has made everybody stronger and more determined to ensure this year's event is a memorable one," she said.
Her sentiments were echoed by Cllr.Mary Swords,Mayor of Tipperary town who said that justice was done which was welcomed by everybody in the town.
"What happened last year was absolutely disgraceful, the good name of Tipperary town suffered greatly as a result of the activities of a few but that is over with now," said Cllr.Swords.
The mayor said that the manner in which the people responsible for carrying out so much mayhem in the town on St.Patrick's Day last year not only sent out a message to those who might engage in such behaviour in Tipperary but also to those living in towns throughout the country.
"The lengthy sentences handed down will act as a deterrent,nobody wants to see a repeat of what happened on the streets of Tipperary last year," said the mayor.
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Weather for Clonmel
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Heavy rain
Temperature: 2 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South
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