Toowoomba’s CBD set to become a sea of green this Sunday

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Toowoomba’s biggest and best St Patrick’s Day parade.

The Darling Downs Irish Club is getting all geared up for the biggest day on the Irish calendar this week, with their annual St Patrick’s Day parade on this Sunday. Local Irish dancers Catherine (front, left) and Sarah (front, right) McGovern help Darling Downs Irish Club committee members (back, from left) Aileen Cater-Steel, Tomas Guerin, Gillian Ross holding Arthur Ross and Mary McGovern prepare for Toowoomba's celebrations. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The Brisbane St Patrick’s Day parade might have been scrapped this year, but the luck of the Irish seems to have rubbed off on Toowoomba with the Garden City madly preparing for this weekend’s parade, which is set to be a bigger spectacle than ever before.

This Sunday the Irish Club will turn into a sea of green, white and orange as Toowoomba celebrates St Patrick’s Day with the annual street parade followed by plenty of fun and tom foolery at the Irish Club.

President of the Darling Downs Irish Club Tomas Guerin said this year’s parade was going to be much larger than previous years with several more floats and performers taking part for the first time.

“This year we’re excited to have both the Toowoomba and the Southern Downs Town Criers join in again, as well as the Caledonian Pipe Band, dancers from JE Dancehouse, Girl Guides, tin whistlers, children training rubber snakes and St Patrick who will be chasing away the snakes,” he said.

Catherine (front, left) and Sarah (front, right) McGovern help Darling Downs Irish Club committee members (back, from left) Aileen Cater-Steel, Tomas Guerin, Gillian Ross holding Arthur Ross and Mary McGovern prepare for Toowoomba's celebrations of St Patrick's Day. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“We will also have four decorated floats this year with leprechauns and rainbows as well as flag bearers and descendants of immigrants who came to Australia on the ship Erin-go-Bragh back in the 1860s. It will definitely be a big day with plenty to see.”

Parade organiser, Aileen Cater-Steel said St Patrick’s Day is celebrated around the world on March 17, but the Darling Down’s Irish community have also chosen to celebrate on the weekend.

“The Darling Downs is home to many local residents with Irish ancestry and we are fortunate the Darling Downs Irish Club is a vibrant association that promotes Irish culture in the region,” she said.

“This year’s event will differ from previous years because it will be bigger and will include classic cars, floats, Irish dancers and community groups.”

The parade is taking place this Sunday, March 14 from 10am, starting and ending at the Irish Club Hotel.

“The parade will start from Irish Club Hotel car park on Station St before travelling along Margaret St, Ruthven St, Russell St and then back to the Irish Club Hotel,” Ms Cater-Steel said.

“Ruthven Street between Margaret and Russell Street and Russell Street between Ruthven and Station Street will be closed for the purpose of conducting the St Patricks Day March.”

This year the Toowoomba St Patrick’s Day parade received a cultural grant from the Irish Embassy to help cover the costs of the street closure fee.