Allfemale colour party leads castlebar parade for first time

HISTORY was made today when an all-female colour party from the Defence Forces led the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Castlebar for the first time ever, writes Tom Gillespie.

The party consisted of the officer in charge, Second Lieut. Lisa Chambers, Ballyheane, who carried the colours, flanked by Sergt. Rowena Gillespie, Castlebar, and Corporal Geraldine Muldowney, Foxford.

Last St. Patrick’s Day, Sergt. Gillespie was the first female ever to be included in a colour party.

The newly appointed Commander of D Company, Garry Smyth, is fully behind the inclusion of women in this role.

He said: “It is a great move. It is a first in Mayo. We never had anything like it before.

“Women in the Defence Forces are all behind it and think it is a great idea. And the idea is gathering momentum.

“This is a first and it involved the redeployment of what used to be the FCA and now the Army Reserve, where all women now carry an equal role within the Defence Forces.”

Company Commander Smyth, a native of Castlebar and resident in Westport, was appointed to the position in charge of D Company of the 6th Battalion in January. He added: “There were applicants from all over the country in for the position.

“I have taken over as new company commander and the formation of an all-female colour party is part and parcel of my whole new outlook towards the Defence Forces.”