WHEN: Friday, March 16, 2012 at 12:00am until Monday, March 19, 2012 at 12:00am

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WHERE: Dungannon,  Co Tyrone, Ireland

·           DESCRIPTION

Aghaloo AOH Division 202 in liaison with the County Board of Tyrone, Ireland, would like to take this opportunity to happily invite you all to this years Irish AOH, Saint Patricks Day Parade. 

The parade will be held in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, Ireland. And it is the first
 time in over 20 years that the parade is to be in Dungannon and so it is a major coup for the town and a great opportunity for the tourism, culture and economy of the town and its surrounding area. 

Dungannon has a very rich history and a deep Irish identity and it was once the principle seat of the O'Neills, the Irish Gaelic dynasty who were often thought of as the most powerful Gaelic family, and because Dungannon was the clan's main stronghold it was by default therefore also the most important settlement in Gaelic Ireland. The O'Neills ruled Tyrone and most of Ulster for hundreds of years until their departure during the Flight of the Earls, and although little of their castle remains their presence is still deeply felt by the people and so it is with great pride that the people of Dungannon and indeed all of Tyrone feel when history confirms them to have been one of the last strongholds of the great Gaelic way of life.

So it is with great honor that we, Aghaloo AOH Division 202 have been given the job of hosting and organizing this years parade in a town that has such a great place in Irish history and so we are determined to do the best we can. 

The parade itself will be at 3pm on Saturday the 17th of March 2012, and although this will be the main piece of the event, because Saint Patricks Day this year falls on a Saturday, it was felt that there was a great opportunity to have a weekend of festivities and so we will be working with others in and around Dungannon town itself to help organize other events that will take place all weekend throughout Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We hope that these events will but only help compliment the main parade and so ensure even more that a great weekend is to be had by all.

If you would like to find out more, take part in the parade or if you would like to help and get involved, then please get in contact and we will be glad to speak with you. 

Lastly recognizing the great AOH tradition that there is in America, we would like to this time to offer a great hand of welcome to any AOH division or band or any individuals or groups who would like to come to Ireland for Saint Patricks Day. Because we think it would be great if you would come home to Ireland and come home to Dungannon for Saint Patricks Day 2012. We and Ireland would be glad and proud to have you, and deeply honored if you were to attend and take part in our parade. 

So to all our American friends, cousins, brothers and sisters, if you would like to come back to the land of your identity, the land of your blood, the land of your ancestors birth, then rest assured that we will extend and immplement a thousands welcomes to each and everyone of you and ensure that you will experience a Saint Patrick's Day that only Ireland could deliver. 

Thank you for taking the time to read and if you have any questions, just ask. Thanks 

We will follow this up with more information shortly. 

Aghaloo Division 202


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