CARDIGAN’S first St David’s Day parade proved a huge success with hundreds of people taking part as the sun shone down.

Both young and old assembled at the Guildhall and proudly waved their flags, while many of the youngsters had their faces painted to celebrate the occasion.

The parade snaked through the town centre along High Street to Cardigan Castle led by the huge red dragon from Small World Theatre and watched by a large crowd.

Once at the castle, the parade was welcomed by castle director Jac Davies and there were speeches from Ceredigion MP Ben Lake and town mayor Cllr John Adams-Lewis. There were also performances by youngsters from Penparc and Cardigan Primary Schools.

Mr Lake said: “I think it’s wonderful that we have an opportunity for young and old to come together in glorious sunshine to celebrate St David’s Day.

“This forms an important part of our heritage that we can be rightly proud of and it is great to see it being celebrated in such fine and fitting surroundings as the castle and with so many people.

“I also think this could bolster the case for St David’s Day being a bank holiday in Wales. Many other countries around the world celebrate their patron saint in such a way and have many more bank holidays, without having an effect on productivity.”

His suggestion of the bank holiday drew cheers from the crowd and was also backed up by Cllr Adams-Lewis.

“It’s great to see so many people taking part and hopefully it brings people into the town,” added Cllr Adams-Lewis.

The parade was organised by Cered and it is hoped to make it an annual event.

One of the organisers Steffan Rees said: “We were hoping to have hundreds turn up but I think we can add a nought on to that. Let’s hope we can make next year bigger and better.”

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