St Patrick's Day on Achill Island

I arose early to be picked up at 8:30 a.m.  It,s parade day.  We are on our way to church in Keel.  Parking is scarse today.  We have to walk a bit.  7 bands are tuning up - then we go into the church for mass.  After mass the bands all march down the street.

First they line up.  We get behind our band in support of them.

I do believe it is the loveliest parade I have ever seen.  Our band is in front of us.  The Atlantic Ocean is on our right side.  Three times the parade stops.  Silence pays homage to someone who has died within the past year.  After two or three minutes a single beat of the drum signals us to move on.  In one instance the death has been recent and the family is at the door.  

We stop for a pose.  Eileen's sister, Marge and I pose in front of the flag men.  The wind is in the east- very cold yet the walk is worth the weather.  At least it is sunny.  Behind us are 6 more bands with their support groups like us.  When we finally reach Keel the bands disperse, pack up and move down the road to the next parade/church stopping place.

This young man was at the head of his band.  It isn't the Rose Parade but it's what every parade should be- full of pride, respect, and a certain amount of revelry. I have never seen real shamrocks before.  They are tiny and worn on one's left shoulder- men and women alike.  Many people of all ages have face tattoos- the removable kind. At the same time every one is having fun and for many it is a time to return back to the island and visit one's roots.  Walking down the parade route with the shoreline on one side and the tiny town of Keel on the other was a lovely sight- one not to be forgotten.