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There was a lovely hustle and bustle in the room as proceedings got underway to launch this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade Festival in The Plunkett Suite of The Marcy Hotel last Thursday evening. Guest of honour were members of Drogheda’s Pantomime Society who are celebrating their 75th Anniversary this year and in recognition of this tremendous achievement the parade committee were delighted to announce that long time Panto legends Fiona O’Connell and John Kirwan – aka Simple Simon are to be Grand Marshall’s for this year’s expanded St’ Patrick’s Day Festival.
Also in attendance on the night was the grand old dame of the Drogheda Parade, Isobel Sanroma who noted that this was the first year that there would be two Grand Marshall’s and with the theme for the parade being “Once upon a Panto” it should one of the biggest and brightest parades for years.
Chairperson of the Committee Sarah Taaffe was delighted to be able to announce that this year there will be an expanded programme of events truly making this year Drogheda’s first ever St. Patrick’s Day Festival with a four day programme of events beginning on Saturday the 14th of March.
Next up to speak was Eoghan Darcy who announced that in association with Scotch Hall and the local Irish School there will be Irish language activities, workshops, Pop up Gaeltachts, Irish Treasure Hunt and ceili discos running from 10:00 to 4:00from Saturday to Monday.
Drogheda Cottage Market which showcases a wide variety of local artists, craft makers and unique products will also be present in an outdoor marquee on the Riverfront on the Sunday and Monday. While local artists Darren Finnegan and Rose Dunne will host art workshops over the course of the weekend in a unit in Scotch Hall
Also present at The Riverside for Sunday and Monday will be a gig rig which will feature some of Drogheda wide variety of musical talents including The Drogheda Male Voice Choir, Comhaltas, Rapscallion, The Wednesday Gang, The Hit Queen’s and many more.
Sunday evening at Scotch Hall will be one for all the family and will feature St. Patrick coming up the River Boyne and come to the stage just in time to launch the St. Patrick’s Day Fireworks.
On Monday the focus wills witch to celebrating our native language with a whole host of activities to promote the use of Irish over the course of the day.
Of course the big day itself on Tuesday will be the biggest and best show in town this year. And will also have live music after the parade has finished with a street closure until4:00 thanks to the support of the local Gardaí.
Mayor Michelle Hall was full of praise for the dedication and hard work the committee have put in. “This parade has grown year on year over the last few and it’s fantastic to seethe event grown into a proper 4 day festival where families and come into the centre of the town and enjoy so many free events.”
To wrap things up Sarah Taaffe again took to the podium and was very thankful for the sponsorship of Michelle and the local councillors who have been a wonderful support over the years especially in these challenging times as other parades are struggling around the country. She was also greatly appreciative of the investment from sponsors Louth County Council, FitzScientific, Drogheda BIDS and The Drogheda and District Chamber for their continued support by sponsoring The Best Dressed Window.
Also the many service providers who come together to make St Patrick’sDay special including the Order of Malta, Irish Coast Guard, Drogheda River Rescue and especially Nichola at Scotch Hall, who was keen to add that “We are delighted at Scotch Hall to be working in tandem with the parade committee tocreate a new reimagined event where we celebrate our patron saint in the bestway possible considering Ireland is the only country in the world with amusical instrument as it’s national identity symbol and this years Festivalwith so much more art, music andcreativity will create a fabulous family focused programme of free events over the weekend.”
Photo credit: Jenny Callanan Photography
