Report Paul Murphy
Navan is gearing up for what has been promised “the best St Patrick’s Day ever” but there is disappointment that Ashbourne won’t have a parade this year. The Mayor of Navan Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons, who is chairperson of the organising committee for the town’s festivities was full of enthusiasm this week as he outlined , plans for the grand parade through the streets of the town, puppet show, face painting, music, and a man who sends himself and everyone else literally up the walls!
The parade itself, with many more floats involved this year, will take its “traditional route” starting from the Enterprise Centre, along the Trim Road, Railway Street, Cannon Row, Abbey Road, Kennedy Place, Market Square and Ludlow Street. Cannon Row will be an area of special sensory events for special people.
There should be plenty of knockabout in the puppet shows, one to be held before the parade and one after. There will be live music from the reviewing stand and between 11am and 1pm the boys and girls from St Patrick’s Classical School and the Mercy college. From 10am to 1pm a treasure hunt will be held throughout the town and the business people have shown great interest in and support for this event.
The Mayor said that all the aspects of multicultural Navan will be on display with groups from Lithuania, India, Thailand and the Philippines taking part in the festivities. “We want to encourage people who have come into the town from elsewhere to feel welcome and we want them to take part. They can feel free to contact myself or members of the community to get in touch”.
A Grand Marshal has yet to be chosen to head up the parade and there are hints that a group rather than an individual may be given the honour. There is a competition for best floats in various categories.
A big secret will be unveiled on the day. A man known for his acrobatic skills in running up walls is about to perform.
Unfortunately, Ashbourne won’t have a parade this year. The small group involved in organising previous parade was faced with big logistical problems. There is plenty of local support for the parade itself on St Patrick’s Day but not enough organisation resource to plan in advance. It takes three or four months to plan a decent parade and it was simply to late this year to get an organising group together. One former organiser told Meath Live that these committees often have the same people working hard over the years and it comes to a stage where perhaps they can no longer make the commitment. New blood is needed in order to put in the hard advance work.
