Here’s how they did Paddy’s Day parades in 1905…

There was no Macnas in those days.

17/03/13 16,553 Views 22 Comments

HOW DID THEY do St Patrick’s Day parades in 1905?

Well, let’s just say that the colourful, energetic floats that we have these days weren’t quite de rigueur.

This photograph, taken from the National Library of Ireland‘s Tempest photographic collection, shows a town in the Ardee or Louth area celebrating the day.

The parade does look a bit… staid, but we can see a brass band in the foreground, so perhaps things were about to kick off. Still, a bit of Macnas would probably have gone a treat.

TEM_069 (1)

Image: National Library of Ireland

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Aoife Barry

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Elma Phudd 17/03/13 #

10 318

They only started using colourful floats when the world stopped being black and white. Just after the tornado in the wizard of oz.

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Brian Lenehan 17/03/13 #

5 76

I wonder did ATA Security have floats in that parade?
I remember marching the parade as a cub-scout while being brainwashed by its Tannoy playing in loop “A T A SECURITY. Phone double seven five, two oh one”. Twenty eight years later and I can still remember that friggin’ number. Damn you commercialised St. Patrick’s Day parades!

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Dmc 17/03/13 #

10 63

Taken today and used Instagram!

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vic 17/03/13 #

13 75

I don’t see anyone drunk, picking fights, throwing beer cans or vomiting on the procession.

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- Mike Thomas 17/03/13 #
  
  4 61
  
  And no tracksuits.
  
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ripedoffagain 17/03/13 #

5 35

Is that Dundalk Aoife ?

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- ripedoffagain 17/03/13 #
  
  6 19
  
  Confirmed
  
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- Mike Thomas 17/03/13 #
  
  3 19
  
  Up the town, hi.
  
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- MrMagoo 17/03/13 #
  
  0 12
  
  That looks like Bray last year !
  
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- Frank Conroy 19/03/13 #
  
  0 0
  
  Nice to see Dundalk getting a mention – A proud town with a fine tradition.
  
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mr_bean_007 17/03/13 #

3 26

No bin trucks in the parade? Shock horror!

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Shane Kernaghan 17/03/13 #

2 13

In the rare oul times..!!

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Debi-Nikita Rathbone-Rentzke 17/03/13 #

0 5

Thanks for sharing this time piece from the past Aiofe.

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Seamus McDonnell 17/03/13 #

9 24

Always thought it referred to as St.Patricks Day.

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- Brian Lenehan 17/03/13 #
  
  9 25
  
  TBH I’d be in favour of them moving “Let’s celebrate being Irish by getting drunk” Day to sometime later in the year when we’ve better chance of good weather and longer evenings, like we did during the foot n’ mouth crisis, and let those who wish to celebrate the Feast of St. Patrick celebrate it in peace, without the day being corrupted into the disdainful “Paddys Day” that it’s become.
  
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Eileen Farrelly 17/03/13 #

0 0

I agree with Liz its a fun day for all the family and also a celebration of being Irish , look at all the country,s that enjoy and celebrate with us now thats not bad :)

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Stephen Mc Elligott 17/03/13 #

55 22

That photo was taken yesterday lads. Lol. Yes that is Dundalk Market Square. Heart of the town of Dundalk. Nice photo too. I think I can see an icon of Our Lady in it.

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- Paul Wallace 17/03/13 #
  
  20 43
  
  Ahh Stephen please say something about god or Jesus I love these comments from you
  
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Ann Turley 17/03/13 #

84 29

Well, it certainly looks better than the ridiculous carnival of today..

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- Liz Gallagher 17/03/13 #
  
  0 5
  
  oh come on, the parade is just wonderful, colourful and so much fun :) – of course there is going to be a few drunks etc., but most people have a lovely family time, no matter what the weather, cheer up!!!!
  
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Mart Godfrey 17/03/13 #

2 2

Lá le Páidraig is the correct name for the Parade. This was before the Army took over the parade and when it became more vibrant. Great photo!

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Debi-Nikita Rathbone-Rentzke 17/03/13 #

1 1

Sorry for incorrect spelling of your name, Aoife. :-)

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Here’s how they did Paddy’s Day parades in 1905…