An Tóstal

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An Tóstal (sometimes, Tostal) was the name for a series of festivals held in Ireland in the 20th Century. Inaugurated in 1953 as a celebration of Irish life, it continued on into the early 1960s when it eventually died out.

New Garda recruits march past the GPO, during the Tóstal celebrations of 1954. On the daïs is President Sean T. O'Kelly

Tóstal commemorative 1/4p stamp from 1953

Tóstal commemorative 2 1/2p stamp from 1953

The original purpose of the festival was a celebration of Irish culture, with an emphasis upon drawing tourists into the country during the Easter off-season. It was marked by a series of regional parades, arts and sporting events. Many towns began a clean-up plan, thus starting off the national Tidy Towns competition, which is running still in Ireland. In 1953, a set of commemorative stamps were issued by the Irish Post Office.

In recent times, an effort has been made to revive the Tostal and some Irish towns, notably Drumshanbo, are now celebrating the Tostal again.