Two community arts organisations, Down Community Arts and Beat Carnival, are assisting preparations for St Patrick’s Day festival parades in Newry and Downpatrick, organised by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

The groups are working with schoolchildren and residents to develop floats and other parade content for the events scheduled on 17 March. Workshops are being hosted to increase community engagement, including hands-on sessions for making floats.

In Downpatrick, workshops for schoolchildren occur during the week, with additional sessions at the Down County Museum every Saturday from 11am to 3pm until 14 March. Down Community Arts, based in Downpatrick, has experience from previous parades and is collaborating on spectacular floats.

Beat Carnival is supporting community groups in Newry, focusing on carnival arts, artist development, and community participation. The organisation has been involved in past St Patrick’s Day parades.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Philip Campbell, stated that local people are at the heart of the preparations. He noted the parades attract thousands of visitors, creating a festival atmosphere in Newry and Downpatrick.

Councillor Campbell said the events provide an economic boost to the district and mark the start of a busy period including Easter festivities and a spring-summer events programme.