A host of winners at St Patrick"s Day Parade Awards

The annual Athlone Town St Patrick"s Day Parade Awards were held in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel last Wednesday evening with 16 winners chosen in a variety of categories. St Kieran"s Community Centre won Best Overall Entry while Best Commercial Entry went to Athlone Tae-Kwondo Academy. Other winners included Athlone Film Club, which won the Best Voluntary Entry, and Monksland Foroige Club which won Best Sporting Entry. Helen McCaul of the Parade Committee said this year the parade enjoyed a record number of entries. 'It was the biggest parade we"ve had with 62 entries so we were delighted. We had a great turn-out for the awards ceremony too,' she added. The committee wished to thank all their sponsors, especially Athlone Town Council, Westmeath County Council and Ollie Kenny Ltd for their support this year. 'We"d also like to thank all the volunteers and assistants who have been brilliant,' Helen adds. Preparations for next year"s parade are already underway with a number of acts having been booked in the past few weeks. 'There have been six acts already booked so it"s really a constant process. With things such as street theatre it"s important to get in early or else they will be booked for another event. We"re looking forward to next year already,' Helen says.