Vintage
Sunday
Parade
Join us for some fantastic family fun with street theatre, floats, vintage cars and more.
John Carroll, who has contributed so much to the community of Birr, will give the Opening Address. Emma Nee Haslam returns as Parade MC.
For Going with the Flow, we have a wonderful community-made river float and a stream of beautiful, ethereal bubbles filling Main Street, thanks to Paris Bubbles.
This year’s winners medals are kindly sponsored by Hollywood’s Garage.
An accessible area and accessible parking will be available again this year.
Sunday 4 August | 3pm
Contact vintageweekevents@gmail.com
About the 2024 Parade
CALL FOR ENTRIES
Whether it's a Vintage Car, a float, a community group to walk in this year's Parade etc, we want to hear from you!
NOTE:
It will not be possible to accept arctic lorries this year, we apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Online registration closed.
As always, it will be possible to register in-person on the morning of the Parade, so please drop by the Marian Hall from 1pm.
FOR QUERIES:
birrvintageweekparade@gmail.com
CHANGE TO ROUTE
IMPORTANT
In 2024, the route for the Parade on 4 August will be changing.
The new route will now turn left at Emmet Square and proceed across Green Street and finish as normal at the Marian Hall.
This means the parade will no longer include Emmet Street.
The change to the route is due to a large increase in costs for the compulsory professionally-delivered traffic management system required for the running of the Parade.
Chair of Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival,
Caroline Conway:
“We understand this will be disappointing news, especially for residents of Emmet Street. In recent years, we have been legally required to have a professional traffic management system in place for the Parade. In the past, it was possible to man the diversions needed thanks to our wonderful team of volunteers, but this is no longer possible.”
“Due to the huge costs associated with a professional traffic management system, we need to make this change to the route to ensure we can continue to deliver one of the festival highlights every year moving forward. We kindly ask members of the public to line the new route from the Bank of Ireland in Emmet Square, right around onto Green Street and finishing at Memory Lane Antiques.”
ACCESSIBLE AREAS
REGISTRATION
NOW CLOSED.
Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival will have Accessible Viewing Areas at the parade for people with additional needs. Space is limited. Access will be by pre-registration only.
For people using wheelchairs, we have a reserved area for you to enjoy the parade.. This area is also suitable for people with reduced mobility, providing you with extra space and comfort. A family member or friend can accompany you in these areas.
We will also have a Priority Viewing Area. This is suitable for people who need a quieter space to enjoy the parade from.
All of these areas have limited space. If you would like access to any of these areas, please register in advance.
To register, email birrvintageweekparade@gmail.com, or contact our Festival Info Line on (089) 242 4379.
Deadline to register: Friday 2 August, 12pm.
We will do our best to find space for everyone who contacts us in advance.
The festival does not have arrangements with any car parks. We can provide information on arrival times and road closures on the day of the event to make your day more enjoyable.
MC & OPENING ADDRESS
PARADE MC
Emma Nee Haslam
Emma Nee Haslam became a member of the Vintage Week family as vice-chair from 1994 to 1996 and continues to be involved at many levels since then including festival secretary for many years, festival chair in 2007 and currently is a member of our board of directors.
Emma has been the Manager at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre for over twenty two years and has extensive experience in event management, running approx. 180 events per year.
During the past twenty years she established, and currently co-produces, both Hullabaloo! Offaly’s Children’s Arts Festival with Offaly County Council and Scripts Ireland’s Playwriting Festival with Jasango Theatre and was a member of the team that established OFFline Film Festival and Birr Festival of Music.
OPENING ADDRESS
John Carroll
John Carroll is the quintessential Birr person with a DNA going back centuries in the locality and who has been a committed community activist for many years and to the forefront in driving many important initiatives.
He served his community as an elected public representative from 1985 to his retirement in June last year; serving on Birr Town Council, Birr Municipal Council and Offaly County Council and had the honour of presiding as Cathaoirleach of all three.
As a community activist John has played a key role in the redevelopment of Birr Swimming Pool to a modern Leisure Centre, in the initiative to develop our children’s playground in Birr and the the refurbishment of Crinkle handball alleys. He was the instigator and a founding member of Birr 20:20 vision which has played a pivotal role in numerous progressive initiatives since its formation in 2014.
Promotion of the Irish language has been a passion of John's over the years and he played a leading role in establishing a Naonínra ( Irish language pre school) in 2011 and securing approval for a multi denomination, coeducational Gaelscoil in Birr in 2015 which recently moved to its new modern building.
John has also contributed to many other Voluntary groups in Birr ie Birr Boxing club, Birr Travellers and Settled group, Birr Comhaltas and Biorra le Gaeilge.
AFTER THE PARADE
Green Street
4pm / Vintage Cars on Display
Emmet Square
4pm / Circo Goyo
5pm / Children’s Vintage Costume Competition
5.30pm / Ann’s Best Dressed on Vintage Sunday
CIRCO GOYO
Goyo is a shameless Balloon Man, who dances without fear of ridicule, who enjoys and transmits his energy on stage. With a unicycle and juggling routines, he makes the difficult easy, enjoying the music that complements each moment. Gregorio has performed at festivals across Europe and his native country Argentina.
In partnership with Circus Factory.
PARKING RESTRICTIONS
