Film star car for Kells parade

The original 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" car used in the 1960s movie of the same name will be the star of the show at this year"s St Patrick"s Day Parade in Kells. The parade will be just one of a number of colourful events which will make up the St Patrick"s Festival, which is expected to attract large crowds to the town. This year"s parade takes place at 3pm on Tuesday 17th March. There will be a gig rig at Farrell Street, which will feature an eight-piece tribute band to the late Joe Dolan. A funfair will be located at the Fair Green from the previous Thursday up to and including St Patrick"s Day. A junior disco will take place on 17th March in The Vibe nightclub at 4.30pm and a ceilí mór will be staged in the Headfort Arms Hotel between 5pm and 7pm. One of the big attractions of the parade is expected to be 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang", which will be brought to Kells from Stratford-on-Avon by its owner, Peter Pikton, for the parade. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the film, which starred Dick Van Dyke and Sally Ann Howes.