CELEBRATING ST PATRICK’S DAY VIRTUALLY!

23 March 2021

A Virtual Happy St Patrick’s Day from the Irish Guards

A Virtual Happy St Patrick’s Day was had by Cullybackey Cadets, who are cap badged Irish Guards.  

On 17th March 2021 as is tradition of all the Irish Regiments, cadets would normally be marching out onto a parade square to be presented their shamrock, unfortunately this did not happen because of COVID-19 & the current “Lockdown” measures.   
However it did not prevent the marking of this important date in the Irish Guard’s Calendar, instead the cadets were invited to gather “virtually” and join with the Regimental Headquarters, Virtual St Patrick’s Day Zoom Meeting.

The cadets along with Ulster Branch Association Members, including serving Irish Guardsman received their shamrocks delivered courtesy of the Ulster Branch of the Irish Guards Association.  The Association safely distributed shamrocks to over 100 Ulster Branch Association Members throughout the Province.  

This greenery they wore proudly in their berets and jackets as they watched the service with the Regimental Lt Colonel & hosted by Captain Robbie Wilmont MBE.  Other participants included current Irish Guards, some of whom were transmitting live from the Irish Guards Headquarters, London.   They also listened to conversations from past members in various locations including, Liverpool, Birmingham, Dublin, Northern Ireland and further afield, and heard from the Pensioners at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea with an invite to visit them if in London for next year’s patron saint of Ireland celebrations.
Cadet Taylor Ashe said:
“It was a brilliant way celebrate St Patrick’s Day and hopefully next year we will be presented with our shamrocks on the parade square again”.

Cullybackey Detachment, C Conpany and Lisneal Detachment, B Company of the 1st (NI) Battalion Army Cadet Force would like to thank the Irish Guards Association for supplying the shamrocks and inviting the cadets to their virtual event.

Pictured with their shamrocks are: Cadet Anna Grace Donnelly & Cadet Taylor Ashe