A sea of green covered Dublin city this afternoon for St Patrick's Day as Republic of Ireland manager Vera Pauw said she felt "humbled" to be Grand Marshal of the parade.
Despite the rain, up to 450,000 people lined the streets of Dublin to celebrate the festive day.
Vera joined players Diane Caldwell and Paula Gorham - who scored a hat-trick on her Ireland Women's Team debut in the country’s first women’s international in May 1973 – in the city centre as the Grand Marshals for St Patrick’s Day.
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The trio were also joined by Dallas star and international guest of honour Patrick Duffy, who celebrated his 74th birthday on St Patrick’s Day. He arrived in style to the parade in a 1965 Cadillac Coupe De Ville convertible.
Dressed in a glittering green Louise Kennedy suit, Vera told us how “humbled” she was “as a foreigner” to be asked to be part of the big day, which celebrated the theme “Mar a cheile sinn - we are one" at this year's St Patrick's Festival.
She told us: “My communication manager told me in November and I’ve had to keep quiet. That was very difficult. I fell off my chair (when I found out). I started to read about it… To me to be the Grand Marshal today as a foreigner, it is such a huge, huge honour. I’m so humbled, especially the way Ireland has supported me this difficult year.
“It makes me emotional, and it makes me proud. I hope I can give back today.”
The Dutch native said she was “blown away” that she could lead the parade, alongside players Diane Caldwell and Paula Gorham - who scored a hat-trick on her Ireland Women's Team debut in the country’s first women’s international in May 1973.
“The thought that I, as a foreigner, could lead the team out and represent the team – is a highlight of my life”, she said.
Vera said the women’s football team were “delighted” for her when she was asked.
“It’s great that Diane is here, and she represents all those players who would’ve loved to have been here but many of the players have to train today for matches tomorrow and the day after.
“We’re in the group texting each other so everybody is with us.”
50 years after qualifying for their last major tournament, the Girls in Green will finally manage to show their abilities on the biggest stage possible in July in Australia.
Vera said she hasn’t changed anything about the Irish team’s training or diets in the lead up to the matches because their current routine was their secret to qualifying.
“No. We do everything absolutely the same because that is what brought us success, that is what our secret of qualifying is, so if we changed that now, why would we because every game we are performing better and better and we keep following the same line. The only difference is we are playing high rank positions.”
Ireland defender Diane Caldwell cleared her training schedule and said it was a “real honour” to represent the team as a Grand Marshal at the parade.
Diane said: “I got asked a while back if I would be free today, so I made myself free for an honour like this.
“It’s an amazing experience, a humbling one and a real honour as well. I grew up watching the parade, went to the parade with my family as a kid and never did I think I would be in the parade one day, never mind a Grand Marshal of it so it’s a really great experience.”
The outing comes as the rest of the team are busy preparing for the World Cup - where all eyes will be on them this summer.
“It’s business as usual. Everyone is ticking away at their clubs like they always would be. We’re all in professional environments now. Obviously, we’ve got a string of camps now.
"Obviously there is that added excitement and you know that everything you do has a grander meeting behind it and we’re preparing for something massive and perhaps something that will only happen to you once in your life depending on what stage you’re at.
“That’s definitely in the back of your mind and gives you an added spring in your step,” she added.
At noon, the Grand Marshals stepped out to enjoy a sea of colourful street performers, pageant companies and marching bands hailing from Ireland and across the world.
Organiser’s said this year’s parade is the most ambitious ever, featuring over 4,000 participants and showcasing breath-taking new artistic, interactive and aerial elements.
Richard Tierney, St. Patrick’s Festival CEO said: “St. Patrick’s Day is always a day that fills us with national pride, and I think that’s been elevated for me this year.
"It brings the country and the Irish across the world together to connect and celebrate. This year’s national parade is bigger than ever and the amount of work, dedication and effort that goes into creating this spectacular showcase of Irish talent will be clearly evident.
“Creators, artists, performers and so many more are to be congratulated for what they have produced for us all to enjoy today.”
The theme of this year’s St. Patrick’s Festival, a spectacular global celebration of Irish arts, culture and heritage, is ‘ONE’ - an invitation to people all across the world to connect and celebrate Ireland and Irishness. Among the crowds was guest of honour President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabine.
Also featured in the parade is the 354th Lord Mayor of Dublin, Caroline Conroy, who enjoyed it from the beautiful Lord Mayor’s Coach which dates back to 1791.
The coach was made for the then Lord Mayor by William Whitton, one of three coach builders based in Dublin’s Dominick Street.
The highly decorated coach is 24 feet (7.3m) long, 8 feet (2.4m) wide and 11 feet 6 inches (3.5m) high. Use of the coach declined after Irish independence in the 1920s and it was put into storage in 1932, but lovingly restored in 1975 before making its first reappearance in the 1976 St. Patrick’s Day Parade and has been in the Parade every year since then.
Lord Conroy said: “What a special day today is, for myself and my family, and all of the people of Dublin and those visiting the Capital for St. Patrick’s Day.
"I feel very lucky to be a part of the St. Patrick’s Day parade. It’s such an important tradition for our city and I’m looking forward to seeing the smiling, happy faces as we pass by.
"Congratulations to all of those who are taking part today and have spent so many hours producing this wonderful showcase of national and international talent for us to enjoy.”
New for this year’s parade was Suntas! or Take Notice! bringing fun, entertainment and a healthy dollop of the unexpected as giant monsters take over Clerys on O’Connell Street and Central Plaza on Dame Street.
This year’s parade also took to the skies above Dublin with a performance by Fidget Feet aerialists who created a gravity-defying spectacle piece that saw 11 artists, including flying angels, goddesses and a flying Uillean piper soar in the sky 40 metres above, as they interacted with each other, the passing pageants and on-street bystanders enjoying the parade.
Opening the Parade was a major newly commissioned pageant featuring a collaboration with St. Patrick’s Festival Community Arts pageant with Macnas, Junk Kouture, Discovery Gospel Choir, and 14 community groups from across the country.
183 performers took part in the pageant inspired by the ancient transcript the Leb or the Book of the Taking of Ireland, first published in the 11th century and by the recent publication Girls Who Slay Monsters by author Ellen Ryan.
Spectacular displays including ‘A Future That Moves Us’ by Bui Bolg, Wexford; ‘Under New Management’ by Spraoi, Waterford marking their 25th appearance in the national parade; ‘Strange Creatures’ by Inishowen Carnival, Donegal; ‘One Community, Many Voices’ by Dublin Pride; ‘Onederful World’ brought by Kildare’s Artastic; and Dublin Cycling campaign rounded out the festivities.
This year’s parade also featured 10 transitional showpiece performances, from Uiscebhail, the giant 13 foot 3 water spirit puppet who celebrates the magic of Dublin’s canals to Curious State’s Sham-Rock, a spoof Irish glam rock band, and 100 members of Twirl Ireland Federation who are celebrating 50 years of baton twirlers and majorettes in Ireland. Mickey & Minnie Mouse along with Donald Duck & Daisy also made an appearance in a vintage open top Rolls Royce celebrating 100 years of Disney.
15 marching bands from across Ireland, North America and Canada joined in the magical procession. Our very own Clondalkin Youth Band marched for the 33rd time in the parade, and 175 members of South Carolina’s The Fort Mill High School brought their colours of blue, yellow and white to Dublin’s streets, while the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band took the prize for most members at 393 and bring along The Purdue Big Bass Drum, the world’s largest drum, which was first here in 2013.
Paul Kelly, Chief Executive of Fáilte Ireland said: “This year’s festival is set to be the largest ever St. Patrick’s Day celebration and will give visitors from at home and abroad the opportunity to experience the very best of our capital city, while kick-starting the tourist season by showcasing Ireland as a fantastic tourist destination to people around the world.
“In particular, we welcome the many marching bands that have travelled to join the festival and really add to the atmosphere of celebration.
"Festivals and events play a key role in delivering brilliant visitor experiences, providing a unique reason for visitors to choose a destination and increasing footfall for local businesses, supporting jobs and revenue generation.”
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