CEF St. Patrick’s Album 2014 – Mahon Youth Group CD Fish a resounding success!
Yesterday’s parade proved to be a very colourful and energetic sight showcasing the myriad of community groups and projects that make Cork such a culturally and socially rich city.
Cork Environmental Forum paraded again with messages about sustainability and care of the environment. A big thanks to everyone who participated and helped us with this year’s parade.
As well as having our usual sustainable energy and transport aspects to the float we included more aspects of Biodiversity by adopting the Legends theme with a 3D “Salmon of Knowledge” made from recycled CDs and willow. The fantastic recycled fish was made by the members of the Mahon Youth Group with help from Jessica Mason and the project workers – Denise, Hilary and Ester. They also made individual costumes and headpieces on the marine theme with a colourful display of fish, jellyfish and octopuses.
Keeping with the theme the CEF float also included some of the 7 Nobles of the Wood (In Medieval Ireland oak, hazel, holly, yew, ash, pine and apple are counted as airig fedo, “nobles of the wood” 3 : oak for its acorns and nobility, hazel for nuts, apple for fruit and bark, yew for buildings, holly for chariot-axles, ash for weapons. The painted representations of the trees were commenced by the children from Holy Cross Primary School in Mahon during 2 workshops at Blackrock Castle on 4th March to mark National Tree Week with the finishing touches by Marie-Terese Conere of CEF and some international helpers.
We’re all looking forward to Monday’s Festival parade and it even looks as if we’ll get sunshine this year.
Finishing touches were made to the 7 Nobles of the Wood yesterday and the tandem/ rickshaw etc. checked for roadworthiness by Hugh & Darren. I was down in Mahon on Wednesday and the fish and other costumes looking fantastic – great work by all the children and Hilary, Ester, Denise & Jessica. Looking forward to seeing those of you who are coming along on Monday. See the note from Robert below – City Council are streaming the parade live on the internet, an opportunity for family and friends elsewhere to see. Please note the following:
- Our position is Number 11 in the Blue Section – just along the quay beside the school of Music. We need to assemble there at 12pm.
- The morning meeting place is the Marina Storage Unit in the Marina Industrial Park – just off Centre Park Road – 1st left after Pat McDonnells Paint at 10.30am.
- We will be assembling the float, distributing Dowtcha tops and assigning props to wear/carry.
- Louise and Niamh will be doing face-painting there from 10.30am.
- For those who don’t make it to the Marina, please come to the assembly point at 12pm, you can get your face painted there and we may have extra costumes to give.
- If you and your children decide to come along then please see attached re themes and colours to dress in, as far as possible.
We look forward to seeing you on Monday and again thanks to the Mahon Youth Group for joining us and all the work they’ve put in as well as everyone else who gives us support and participates. The parade is all about participating and having fun!!
This is just a short email to make you aware that we will be streaming the parade live on the internet so if any participants have family or friends abroad they can watch proceedings from wherever they are.
It will be on the following site www.corkstpatricksfestival.ie and messages can be texted in, emailed in, and tweeted and facebooked. Please make everyone aware of this in your group as we would like to make the streaming a success and it is genuinely a great opportunity for people unable to get to the parade to watch it at home.
Thanks a million for all the effort everyone is putting in and I hope you all enjoy the parade.
Regards
Rob
Robert Crowley
Tourism, Events, Arts & Marketing Unit
Cork City Council,
City Hall,
Cork,
Ireland
Tel: 00 353 21 4924276
