“CU” AT ST. PATRICK’S FESTIVAL PARADE
Monday, Monday 1st March 2010
St. Patrick’s Festival Friday 12th – Wednesday 17th March 2010
Credit Unions to be part of the national St. Patrick’s Day Festival Parade for the first time on Wednesday 17th March.
Along with the expected thousands of spectators and participants in this years national St. Patrick’s Festival Parade on Wednesday 17th March, The Irish league of Credit Unions will be celebrating their millions of members all over Ireland through their sponsorship of the national Parade. Today 2.9 million members enjoy the benefits of credit union membership with 505 credit unions based in communities all over the island of Ireland. Given the importance of credit unions within Irish society there is a natural fit between the St. Patrick’s Festival and credit unions.
“For the last year the credit union has been promoting a sense of belonging, seeking to reach out to all communities across the country and we feel our involvement in Ireland’s greatest celebration is a perfect platform to continue this movement and bring our message to a wider community,” commented Mark Bailey, President of the Irish League of Credit Unions.
Run by 4,500 staff and an estimated 9,500 volunteers, every credit union is owned by its members and each operate on a not for profit basis. Members are given access to fair and reasonable rates on savings and loans, a service, which has been delivered, to members for the past 52 years. St. Patrick’s Festival Parade is a raucous 3km long street celebration with over 3,000 performers from Ireland and overseas. Thousands are anticipated to be cheering on the city streets and many millions more tuning in to the RTE 1 broadcast on TV and live streaming on-line.
The Parade pageants are all joined on the day by marching bands from Ireland, USA, and Austria. Pageant companies coming from the four corners of the country; LUXe in Donegal, Spraoi in Waterford, Buí Bolg in Wexford and City Fusion in Dublin to name but a few, have been designing, building and choreographing their pieces in the last months in preparation for the big day on Wednesday 17th March. The St. Patrick’s Festival Parade, is just one of the many thrilling events taking place this year during the six-day national celebration running from Friday 12th until Wednesday 17th March.
Celebrating its 15th Anniversary, St Patrick’s Festival promises to be the very best in street theatre, an explosive fireworks display, traditional and contemporary Irish music, comedy, visual arts, dance, a treasure hunt, family fun and of course the world’s best St. Patrick’s Day Parade. CU at the Parade and make the Festival yours! Check out www.stpatricksfestival.ie for a full list of events, follow us on Twitter @stpatricksfest or be our friend on Facebook Patricks Fest. You can also download the Festival App by texting PATSFEST to 51315* or visit The App Store for the free iPhone App.
* Cost of text is standard rate text (max 14 cent). Free iPhone Ap on iTunes App Store.
For more information, images and interviews please contact:.
Alison Kelly / Paula Donaghy
086 1955 722
alison@insightconsultants.ie / paula@insightconsultants.ie / press@stpatricksfestival.ie