The Drogheda Festivals Committee and their partners revealed plans for this years St Patricks Day parade celebrations at a launch in Mc Hughs on 8th February. 2024 marks the 60th year of Drogheda Festivals St Patricks Day parades, which has only grown in scale and popularity in recent years. Collaboration and Community were the buzzwords of the night, with many speakers including Drogheda Festivals Chairperson Sarah Taaffe attributing the growing success of the parade to the collaboration efforts of those involved and the coming together of many community groups, volunteers, sponsors and businesses to create a special event for families in Drogheda.
This being the 60th anniversary celebration in Drogheda the parades theme this year is "Once Upon a Town" where float entrants are encouraged to create a float with Drogheda town and its history in mind. Drogheda-born Hollywood actor Colin O'Donoghue will be this years Grand Marshal and will be joined by his son, who has never featured in a club entrant in the parade and now gets to help lead the charge.
The parade will obviously be the highlight of this years celebrations, however the organisers have announced that there will be a 4-day festival from March 15th-18th, including a firework launch, markets, a funfair and gig rig stage on the riverfront at Scotch Hall and the d hotel, live music in pubs, family fun experiences and much more.
Wogans Build have once again supported the Drogheda Festivals group as the parades main sponsor, with other sponsors and organisers coming from Love Drogheda BID, Louth County Council, Scotch Hall, K Allen Events and Coca Cola.
At the launch, Drogheda and District Chamber President Hubert Murphy announced that the Chamber would be holding a competition for best window dressing and hopes that Drogheda businesses will get involved in that. Details to be announced soon.
To close up the announcement Sarah Taaffe again reiterated the importance of volunteers and community groups in the success of the parade, thanking the many volunteers and the Gardaí for their support of the parade.
