Gallery: Community pride shines through the shamrocks in Creeslough

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Hundreds turned out for the annual St Patrick's Day parade in Creeslough on Friday.

Vantage points were scarce as locals and visitors lined the street.

The parade, underway at 12 noon just after morning Mass, was led by the Meenderry School Reunion Band from the field behind St Michael's Church.

St Patrick himself made an appearance, driven by Eddie McFadden and Declan Breslin, in a similar kit car, followed, accompanied by Liam McElhinney, the Chairperson of the St Michael's GAA club.

Children from St Michael's and Dunfanaghy Youths FC, proudly wearing their club colours, were out in big numbers.

Creeslough Community Childcare won the prize for the best float, their children paraded through the town on a trailer pulled by a Massey Ferguson 5612.

Majella McFadden acted as the MC. Her father, the community volunteer Ben McFadden, who died last April, was synonymous with the St Patrick's Day parade, among other events in the locality.

He was among those remembered in a poignant minute's silence at McNulty's Bar. There, the parade paused to honour those from the area who died in the last year, including the ten victims of the Creeslough explosion in October.

Fr John Joe Duffy led prayers, flanked by Canon David Skuse and friars from Ard.

It has been a year of change across the globe, highlighting in a way by the blue and yellow flags that fluttered in the hands of the Ukrainian children, now pupils at Creeslough National School and who held a 'Lá Fhéile Pádraig' banner.

Some families fleeing war-torn Ukraine have made Creeslough their home and took part in their first St Patrick's Day parade alongside their new classmates and neighbours.

Jake Alcorn in his buggy led the way for the Creeslough NS contingent.

Groups from School Mhuire and Scoil Náisiúnta Glasáin also provided colourful entrants to the enjoyable outing.

A collection of Bride Gallagher memorabilia is on display in Creeslough. 'The Girl from Donegal', who passed away in 2012 aged 87, is Creeslough's most famous export as Ireland's first international pop star and there was a nod to others from the locality now residing across the world.

McFadden Performance were out in big numbers with Paddy McBride providing a collection of tractors that were dotted along with a variety of businesses and groups from a community whose pride shone through its shamrocks.