Colin Farrell Himself...

... hot foot from the Oscars managed to show up at St Patrick's Day Parade in Bantry, with the rest of the gang, including the little donkey!

As I mentioned yesterday, the forecast for today was appalling but it didn't happen - we enjoyed a bright murk, not an oxymoron but an apt description of a particular Irish weather system. We decided to risk Bantry, not a parade we've been to before as we usually go to Ballydehob. Whilst waiting for the action to kick off we were entertained by Scoil Rinke Carney, and some of the dancers were very small indeed. The little one in my extra perked up hugely as soon as the music started and she was very good. The bigger girls were incredible - such high kicks!
We were disappointed that St Patrick himself didn't appear, obviously in Ballydehob, and there no miles of tractors but we did get the Banshees, a lot of dressing up and some general mayhem.  We were heartened to see  many Ukrainians included and they sang their national anthem in front of the parade dignitaries and received a huge cheer.  All very good humoured, genuine and and the fountains were green. Lá Fhéile Padráig sona daoibh. 
a bit of music to get you in the mood