St Patrick's Day X

The 10th straight day at the Bray St Patrick's Day Parade and maybe this is a good time to bring it to a conclusion.  So without further ado I give you the Fire Performers to take us out in a blaze of glory!

St Patrick's Day IX

Getting near the end of Bray St Patrick's Day Parade with Bray Wheelers cycling club.

St Patrick's Day VIII

 

Slightly smoky today at Bray St Patrick's Day Parade as the bikers hit town.

St Patrick's Day VII

Day 7 and our view of the Bray St Patrick's Day Parade continues with the boys, girls and dog of the Bray Beaver Scouts as they amble past the review stand.

St Patrick's Day VI

Still in Bray, Co Wicklow for yet more photos from the St Patrick's Day Parade and today it's the girls from the Pauline Fegan School of Irish Dancing and their amazing wigs!

St Patrick's Day V

Today we continue our review of the Parade in Bray, Co Wicklow and, this time, the focus is on the children of the Chinese Irish Cultural Academy.

St Patrick's Day IV

We continue our review of the St Patrick's Day Parade in Bray, Co Wicklow with this look at the Rochdale Boomerang Marching Band.

St Patrick's Day III

We're still under the reviewing stand at the St Patrick's Day Parade in Bray, Co Wicklow, and it's time for some fun from the guys and girls from the Mermaid Arts Centre.

St Patrick's Day II

The St Patrick's Day Parade in Bray, Co Wicklow got under way and was led by the heavy hitters of the Army Reserve, the Civil Defence Force and the Fire Service.

St Patrick's Day 1

So here we are at the St Patrick's Day Parade in Bray, Co Wicklow and to start off today's proceedings let's look at a few traditional expressions.

St Patrick's Day

Today it's St Patrick's Day and the St Patrick's Festival takes place all week here in Bray, Co Wicklow. Ireland's biggest funfair is in place on the promenade, so all that's left to do is to wait for the Parade to begin later today and, of course, we will have some photos for you tomorrow.

And The Winner Is?

Yes, there can be only one winner in the Wicklow Daily Photo Halloween shop display competition - did you not know that there was a competition?  Well, of course there was a competition! 

Now those with a keen eye will remember that, yesterday, we showed a picture of Stan & Tony's shop front, but the shop was closed so we couldn't really see what they had to offer apart from a small display in the window.  But today, they pulled out all the stops and fairly blew their rivals away with this incredible display and so now, all that remains is for me to declare that the winner is Stan & Tony's Discount Store.

More Halloween-dows

 

 Continuing our little stroll around Wicklow Town while snapping the Halloween themed shop windows, we are struck by the enthusiasm and imagination of all those taking part.  

Our main picture above shows a detail from Earl's Newsagents brilliant display.

Left, is Stan & Tony's where I suspect a lot of kids will get their Trick-or-Treat costumes.

And let's not forget a worthy cause:

Now, below, you probably won't get spooked if you enter here, more like fleeced!

The Halloween-dows

It's just a couple of days to Halloween and we're downtown in Wicklow Town where most of the local shops have made a big effort with their Halloween displays and so today we take a look at the first of a random selection.

On the left is part of an elaborate dislplay in Earls Newsagents.

The Wexford Mummers

Now you may well say that this is a Wicklow and not a Wexford blog, but the Wexford Mummers did a star turn at the Carnew Heritage Day in Carnew, Co Wicklow on Sunday last and therefore qualify for inclusion in this esteemed blog by way of association.

So, what is this Mumming?  Now very rare in Ireland and concentrated largely in Co Wexford, Mummers combine dancing, mime and pageantry, much as was performed in medieval times. The rhythmic beating of wooden swords against each other is a feature of the entertainment.

Up to twelve participants are called-on by their Captain and each has a long rhyming introduction describing the circumstances and deeds of the character which he represents. Each has a ‘sword’ like a flat wooden ruler about two feet long. In two lines they go into an intricate step-dance accompanied by fast clashing of the swords. Teams dress alike in sashes like baldrics, and special hats.

Carnew Heritage Day II

We're back in Carnew, Co Wicklow for another look at the Vintage Working Day, organised by Carnew Heritage Club.

Left, the guys from Carnew Heritage Club demonstrate how to dismantle a vintage Ferguson tractor in 15 minutes using only a single Ferguson spanner. And then, they have to put it back together!

Look and learn - these kids are engrossed in the sheep shearing demonstration.

Below, fond memories.

Carnew Heritage Day

Sunday last, we criss-crossed the county from our base outside Wicklow Town to the rally in Russborough House near Blessington and then on to Carnew on the Wicklow/Wexford border for the Carnew Heritage Working Day.










Organised by Carnew Heritage Club, it was a fun packed day with something for everyone -  Vintage ploughing, harvesting and threshing; vintage steam engines, tractors, trucks and machinery; sheep shearing and even some music!