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St. Patricks Day 2024

By | EVENTS, Notices
Grand Marshals

Greystones St. Patricks Day Grand Marshals 2024

Join the Festivities at the 2024 Greystones St. Patrick’s Day Parade: Celebrating Inclusivity, Community, and Fun!

The annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Greystones organised by the Greystones Town Team and the Greystones Municipal District is set to dazzle and delight attendees of all ages, with a vibrant procession showcasing the very best of our community spirit and cultural heritage. This year’s parade promises to be bigger and better than ever before with the theme for 2024 being Creative Carnival, featuring an array of exciting attractions and entertainment for everyone to enjoy.

Scheduled to kick off on the 17th March at 11:00 AM from the South Beach carpark, the parade will wind its way through the heart of Greystones, culminating in the lively Marina Plaza. As always, the event aims to celebrate the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day while fostering inclusivity and participation from all members of the community.

One of the standout features of this year’s parade is the introduction of a ‘Quiet Zone’, designed to ensure that individuals with sensory sensitivities can fully enjoy the festivities in a comfortable and welcoming environment. This initiative reflects our commitment to making the event accessible to everyone, regardless of their unique needs. The Quiet Zone is a section of the parade (from the south beach zebra crossing to Lam’s takeaway) where we invite floats, musicians, participants to reduce their normal volume. The Parade committee has been working with Adam Harris and AsIAm to introduce the Quiet Zone this year.

Attendees can look forward to a diverse lineup of participants, including local sports clubs, dance schools, and marching bands, all adding to the lively atmosphere with their energetic performances. Additionally, the parade will feature pop-up busking musicians, adding an extra layer of excitement and spontaneity to the proceedings.

For the younger attendees, there will be free face painting available, allowing children to unleash their creativity and embrace the festive spirit. Plus, participants are encouraged to get creative and design their own parade floats, with a special prize awaiting the creators of the best float. The theme of the 2024 parade is Creative Carnival, so attendees are urged to get creative!

The Parade committee is excited to announce the 2024 Parade Grand Marshals – Siofra Lawless (World Champion Boxer) and Pierce Cahill (Lakers). The grand marshals will participate in the parade and will be sitting in a special vintage car.

But the excitement doesn’t end there! Local shops and businesses are invited to join in the fun by decorating their storefronts in vibrant St. Patrick’s Day themes. A prize will be awarded to the establishment with the most eye-catching window display, encouraging friendly competition and community engagement.

To stay updated on all the latest news and announcements regarding the 2024 Greystones St. Patrick’s Day Parade, be sure to follow us on social media. Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook by following @greystones.ie, where you’ll find behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, event highlights, and more.

So mark your calendars and gather your friends and family for a day of festive fun at the 2024 Greystones St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Let’s come together to celebrate our community, our culture, and the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day in style!

Thank You from the St. Patricks Day Committee

By | EVENTS, Notices

Thank You from Chair of Greystones 2023 St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee

Gerry Walsh

photo by John McGowan

 

Commenting on the Greystones 2023 St Patrick’s Day Parade, Cathaoirleach Councillor Gerry Walsh, Chair of the Parade Organising Committee said:

The planning for this year’s Greystones St Patrick’s Day Parade kicked off on 24th January 2023! I am utterly amazed at the manner in which a dedicated team of people put the parade together in such a short space of time. We planned, replanned and planned again to make it happen!

To all who participated in the organisation I want to express my heartfelt thanks to you for your dedication and community involvement. To our suppliers, service providers and schools who worked so diligently to facilitate the operation of the Parade. To the Greystones and district business and corporate  community who supported the Parade financially. To Wicklow County Council and the Community Affairs Committee of Greystones Municipal District without whose support the Parade would not have been possible. To the members of an Garda Siochana and Greystones Fire Brigade who worked so tirelessly and professionally to ensure the smooth running of the Parade. To Greystones Tidy Towns for their tremendous support and clean up work immediately after the finish of the parade.

To the Parade team who spent many a long night planning the parade:

Ciara Kelly, Yvonne McDonald, Jenny Mowatt, David Norman, Emma Leonard, Dr Brendan Cuddihy, Feargal McKenna, Jennifer Gahan, Deirdre Keating, Sergeant Jennifer Carrick, Sergeant Sheila Hackett, Sharon Hughes, Joe Grennan, Orla Finn, Kathleen Kelleher, Cllr Lourda Scott, Cllr Derek Mitchell, Cllr Mark Barry, Cllr Stephen Stokes, Tony McGuinness, Pratiksha Kamat, Abhishek Nath, Salil Walavalkar, Susan Ngereso McDarby, Annie Waithira Burke, Richie Power, Tom O’Mahony, Marguerite Deegan.

To Austin Prior who did an outstanding job as MC for the parade. And last but not least to the 60 plus volunteer stewards and marshals who so generously gave of their time on the day to ensure that that the parade was an enjoyable experience for the public and the participating groups involved.

Well done to all.

 

Thank You,

 

Gerry Walsh

Chair Greystones 2023 St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee

Greystones wins prestigious International Liveable Communities Award

By | Notices

Greystones LivCom presentation team (from L to R) Michael Nicholson, Cllr. Mags Crean, Dermod Dwyer

Greystones has won a highly prestigious International Liveable Communities award.

The International Awards for Liveable Communities (‘LivCom’) was launched in 1997 and is the only global awards competition focussing on international best practice for the management of the local environment and improving the quality of life of individual citizens through the creation of liveable communities.

The 2021 LivCom awards ceremony adjudication took place on Monday the 6th December last. This competition comprised 160 entries from over 30 countries in 7 categories. Greystones was shortlisted as one of five alongside communities in Bulgaria, South Africa, Estonia and Malaysia in the Gold A category for towns of up to 20,000 in population.

Councillor Mags Crean, Dermod Dwyer, Chair of Greystones Town Team and District Manager Michael Nicholson presented to the adjudicating panel. The 2021 event was hosted in Cairo, Egypt with presentations delivered remotely due to COVID restrictions.

The initiative was championed by Councillor Mags Crean and supported by the Greystones Town Team subcommittee of Marlena Murphy, Ross McParland, Richie Power, Tom O’Mahony, Colum O’Broin, Hubert Fitzpatrick and Ken Murphy. The presentation team presented for an hour and fielded a range of detailed and comprehensive questions from a panel of renowned international adjudicators.

Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council, Frank Curran, congratulated Greystones on winning this award saying “It is testament to the District that they are to the forefront of best practice and an example of what can achieved through focussed engagement and collaboration.  It is a fantastic achievement and well done to all involved”.

Town Manager and Director of Services, Michael Nicholson, paid tribute to Cllr Mags Crean who spearheaded the application and led the Town Team through the process. “Cllr Crean was exemplary in her vision of Greystones and put together an award-winning application.  Congratulations also to the Town Team who supported Mags throughout the process and who played a pivotal role in the final presentation”. 

Joining the Chief Executive in congratulating the Greystones team, the Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Councillor Shay Cullen stated that this collaboration between the Town Team and the Council afforded a wonderful opportunity to present Greystones and its community to a worldwide audience.

Cathaoirleach of Greystones Municipal District Councillor Lourdes Scott in adding her congratulations to everyone involved in the competition  said “ This achievement underscores the importance of building on the culture of inclusivity in the town and encourages us all to place community at the heart of everything we do.”

To view the final presentation that was made to the judges that ultimately brought home the gold medal please click the link below:

Greystones LivCom 2021 Presentation

Light Up Greystones 2021

By | EVENTS, Notices

🎄GREYSTONES CHRISTMAS EVENTS 2021🎄

Santa Claus is coming to Greystones Town on Saturday 20th November, with two special events.

🎅🏼 STARTING AT 4PM, Santa will be travelling around Greystones in his sleigh and wants all the boys and girls to come out and give him a wave. See Santa’s route below.

🎅🏼 STARTING AT 6PM tune into our Facebook page to watch the Light Up Greystones event from the comfort of your own home. This special show is presented by Anna Daly with special appearances from Laura Wood, Ross Scanlon, Dylan Crampton, Dustin the Turkey and Mr and Mrs Claus. Not to be missed!

🛷Santas route commences at 4pm🛷
🎅🏻Eden gate
🎅🏻Loop Charlesland
🎅🏻Rugby Club
🎅🏻along Mill rd to Delgany Wood
🎅🏻Past St. Laurence’s school
🎅🏻Loop of Beechbrook Park
🎅🏻To Seagreen
🎅🏻Left out of Seagreen, down Blacklion Manor rd
🎅🏻To Redford Park for a loop
🎅🏻Past St. Kevin’s school
🎅🏻To Marina Square
🎅🏻Back up to Fire Station
🎅🏻to finish up along Church rd

While Santa 🎅🏻 would love to be able to visit every estate it’s a very busy time of year but he hopes that everyone can make it to some part of the route to wave hello. Stay tuned to our social pages for updates on Santa’s journey.

Families are asked to ensure that proper social distancing is being maintained during Santa’s visit.

Whale Theatre announce their ambitious re-opening programme

By | Notices

Whale Theatre announce their ambitious re-opening programme featuring a stellar line-up of highly acclaimed performers and productions, encompassing everything from music and comedy, to live theatre and spoken word. 

Coming back with a flourish, their re-opening weekend kicks off on Thursday 19 August with performances from renowned Irish musicians Lisa Hannigan, Emma Langford and The 4 of Us. The contemporary music programme boasts an enviable line-up throughout August and September with other performances from Something Happens, Jack Lukeman, Niamh Regan, Hothouse Flowers, Paddy Casey, Eleanor McEvoy, Mike Hanrahan and more!

With a total of 26 live performances taking place over a 6-week period, the Whale Theatre presents this series of events under the theme “disPLAYced”, seeking to highlight the extent to which thousands of Irish artists, arts workers and productions have been displaced by the restrictions imposed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. This poignant and timely “disPLAYced” theme is explored in more detail in Andrea Splendori’s spoken word/music event, “Social Fabric Podcast”.

Theatre fans can look forward to seeing Limerick’s award-winning Bottom Dog Theatre Company performing “A Wilde Fan” starring Miles Breen, as well as the hilarious “Seven Ages of MAM”, from Pauline O’ Driscoll Productions. Younger arts audiences are also well catered for, with Ceol Connected presenting their critically acclaimed and unique production “The Quiet Tree”, suitable for audiences aged 3-6 and their families.

Now more than ever before, we all need a bit of a laugh, so Neil Delamere is set to provide some of that much-needed comic relief! There will also be music of different genres, including jazz from the Carole Nelson Trio, classical music from tenor Ross Scanlon and trad from acclaimed musical duo, Steve Cooney & Cormac Breatnach. 

Extensive Covid-19 Health & Safety measures have been implemented at the theatre in preparation for the reopening, including reduced capacities, contact tracing systems and enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols. Face coverings will be mandatory for audiences, and the majority of performances are slightly shorter than usual, with no intervals. For more information about the Covid-19 Health & Safety measures at the theatre, please CLICK HERE!

The Whale Theatre’s “disPLAYced” programme kicks off on Thursday 19 August and runs until Thursday 30 September. To explore the programme in full and to book your tickets, please CLICK HERE!

Summer Songs – Inland & By The Sea, a series of live music events taking place throughout the summer

By | Notices

Wicklow County Council presents Summer Songs – Inland & By The Sea, a series of live music events taking place throughout the summer.

There will be five days of music at five different outdoor venues across County Wicklow, featuring amazing bands who are from, living in, or with strong connections to Wicklow.  Artists include Hothouse Flowers, Kíla, Pillow Queens, Wyvern Lingo, Mary Coughlan, plus many more

County Wicklow Arts Officer, Jenny Sherwin, said the gigs will be intimate with crowds of between 200 to 500 only at each event where restrictions allow – but there will be no compromise on production values.  She added: ”It’s a rare opportunity to catch these musicians in boutique crowds  where the audience’s view will be up close and personal in these unique settings.”

Wicklow County Council is proud to bring live music and performances by these local musicians back to the community for the first time since the industry was shut down due to the pandemic. There is lots to choose from and something for everyone with traditional Irish, classical, opera, rock and contemporary gigs all on sale.

There will be strict event control for the safest experience for our artists and patrons.  Should any event be cancelled for any reason due to COVID-19, a full refund will apply.

Greystones Event Weekend 

7th August 2021  Location: Burnaby Park, Greystones

  • Kíla
  • Glimpse
  • Scullion
  • Perfect Friction

8th August 2021               Location: Burnaby Park, Greystones

  • Sonamus
  • Mobile Music Machine
  • Into the Deep Dark Woods

Tickets are available to purchase on summersongswicklow.eventbrite.ie in pods of six people and not on an individual basis. Each pod costs €120, with one exception in Greystones on August 8th for families where a pod of six people is €60.  Due to current guidelines in place for the presentation of programmes in pods no greater than six people, it is not possible to purchase individual tickets at this time.

We advise people to book now to avoid disappointment as capacity is limited.

Other events taking places throughout the country include: 

14th August 2021             Location: People’s Park, Dargle Road, Bray

  • Wyvern Lingo
  • Cathy Davey
  • The Booka Club

21st August 2021              Location: Brockagh Resource Centre, Laragh

  • Hothouse Flowers
  • Mobile Music Machine
  • Leslie Dowdall & Mark Caplice

5th September 2021       Location: North Beach, Arklow

  • Pillow Queens
  • Mary Coughlan
  • Leslie Dowdall & Feel the Pinch

A concert in Wicklow Town will be announced during the summer.

Summer Songs – Inland & By The Sea is funded by The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media as part of their Local Live Performance Programming. This scheme is to support the commercial live performance sector to assist producers, promoters, venues and musicians who have been severely impacted by the pandemic restrictions.

Callout for entries for Greystones Poetry Trail for National Poetry Day

By | Notices

In March 2020, shortly after the first Covid-19 lockdown was announced for Ireland, the Whale Theatre teamed up with Greystones-based poet and curator Frances Browner to create a “Poets Wall” which featured over 30 poems from people of all ages inspired by the locality, its history and its stories and saw these poems being displayed all over the town.

Now, one year and three lockdowns later, the Whale and Frances are back together and planning a “Greystones Poetry Trail” another celebration of creativity for national Poetry Day Ireland, which takes place on Thursday 29 April. The Poetry Trail will see poetry once again flood the streets of Greystones, as poems begin to appear in shop windows, on digital displays and who knows where else!

Poetry Day Ireland’s theme for this year is “New Directions: Maps and Journeys” and curator Frances Browner is asking people of all ages, experience, and backgrounds to submit a poem for this very special project. You can send your sonnet, rhyme, limerick, pantoum, or any poem at all to frannerb2@gmail.com.

The deadline for entries is Thursday 22nd April 2021, and don’t forget, your poem should be based on the theme of “New Directions: Maps and Journeys”. Poems should be no more than 16 lines.

Frances is also looking for shops and premises in Greystones who would be interested in displaying a poem in their shop front window, so if you are a shop owner please get in touch!

“Greystones Poetry Trail” is curated by Frances Browner and is proudly supported by The Whale Theatre and Greystones 2020. For more information, please visit www.whaletheatre.ie.

Conor Woods awarded Volunteer in Sport 2020

By | Notices, Sports Clubs

Greystones Lawn Tennis Club is very proud to announce that Conor Woods, a lifetime member of our club has won the Co Wicklow Volunteer in Sport Award for 2020. Co Wicklow .

Conor is known for his passion for all things tennis and incredible enthusiasm. He has coached players at all levels and instilled in children and adults alike a love for tennis.

Conor has worked tirelessly for the club over many years in a voluntary capacity. He has been volunteer Club Manager for the past 3 years and he was nominated in 2020 for his exceptional work and dedication to the club and our community for:

  • Ensuring the club was compliant with Covid Guidelines enabling our members to play tennis in a safe way
  • Managing the installation of 6 new tennis courts which has enhanced our playing facilities
  • Preparing our clubhouse for use as temporary school accommodation for Greystones Community College

Ailish Byrne, Chair of Greystones Lawn Tennis Club said – “We are honoured that Conor has been chosen as Wicklow’s Volunteer in Sport Award for 2020.  Conor is the heart and soul of tennis in Greystones. We are thrilled that his commitment and extraordinary volunteerism to our club has achieved national recognition from the Federation of Irish Sport.”

Richard Fahey, CEO of Tennis Ireland added – “Conor’s passion and energy for Greystones Lawn Tennis Club and indeed for Irish tennis knows no bounds. We at Tennis Ireland know at first hand the work Conor undertakes at the club. The award is thoroughly deserved and Tennis Ireland is delighted that it has been recognised.”

The Volunteers in Sport Awards are run by the Federation of Irish Sport and this is the first time they have been awarded since  2014. Conor will be representing the Club and Co Wicklow at the Volunteers in Sport Awards ceremony on Tuesday 12 January.  A virtual ceremony will be streamed through their Facebook page.  Federation Of Irish Sport on Vimeo