Carrick-on-Suir's St Patrick's Day Parade was a joyful celebration enjoyed by thousands

Carrick-on-Suir's St Patrick's Parade was a joyful, colourful celebration of local sports athletes who have done the town and district proud over the past year with plenty of silverware on display and hundreds of young athletes marching behind the banners of their clubs.

Instead of having a single grand marshal this year, the organisers chose to honour all local sporting heroes with members of Scoil Mhuire Secondary School's senior camogie team, which won the All-Ireland Post-Primary Schools a few weeks ago leading the way.

European Under 17 boxing bronze medallist Isabelle Hawkins and fellow St Nicholas Boxing Club rising star Rylee Finn who won an All-Ireland title just a few days ago were among the other local sports heroes who walked in the parade.

Light drizzle fell softly on the town before and during the parade but it didn't deter a large crowd of spectators from lining the streets of the town centre to watch the pageant that kicked off at 1pm.

A radiantly green St Patrick led the parade, walking alongside Carrick-on-Suir St Patrick's Day Committee member Margo Kavanagh, who carried the Cathleen Fahey Cup that is awarded each year to the best parade entry.

They were followed by Carrick Brass Band, which entertained spectators throughout the parade route that began at the Tirlán Co-op in Carrickbeg and finished at the council car park next to Carrick Library.

Hundreds of juvenile and youth members from Carrick's sports, social and cultural clubs walked in the parade or participated in floats. A large contingent from Piltown AFC crossed the Kilkenny border to take part. 

One of the loudest and most impressive entries was the cavalcade of revving Faugheen 50 motorbikers and young karters promoting the Faugheen 50 sprint series planned for July.

A wide range of the town's community groups and organisations were also represented in the pageant that took close to an hour to pass through the town centre. 

Check out next week's edition of The Nationalist for full report and photo coverage of Carrick's St Patrick's Day Parade.