St Patrick’s Day Parade

In the 1920’s in Adelaide, St. Patrick’s Day parades were important occasions. The annual parade filled King William Street and was watched by large numbers of enthusiastic spectators. A procession and display of tableaux depicting interesting subjects in the national and religious life of Ireland left St Francis Xavier Cathedral Hall and paraded through the city to Adelaide Oval.

The Convent of Mercy, Angas Street, was an active participant in these celebrations. In 1922, its contribution featured a dray carrying students dressed in costume for the occasion and drawn by two powerful horses owned by Mr John Kiley and driven by Bib Pillion.

By 1926, the school had embraced more modern transport, using a flatbed truck for its St Patrick’s Day float.