Festival was a celebration of all things Drogheda

THE first Christmas Festival was a celebration of local community spirit and inspired Siobhan McArdle to write a poem about the endeavour of the volunteers who organised it.

‘All committee members families have been touched by their hard work and unyielding perseverance over the past year,’ Siobhan stated. The poem was read out at the official opening by Noel McArdle’s daughter, Rebecca.

Do you ever look up at Millmount, and wonder what it sees?

As it watches over this old town, a vista of three hundred and sixty degrees.

Do you ever hear St. Peter’s bells, ringing out their chimes?

Measuring out the moments lost, echoing out through time.

Do you ever touch St. Laurence’s Gate, and feel the history in its stone?

And remember those who fought and fell, to save this town that we call home.

How would our monuments judge us now, as they watch, and hear, and feel?

Are we caring of our neighbours? Are our greetings sincere and real?

Are we feeding the homeless on our streets? Are we embracing those from afar?

Are we teaching our children acceptance and love?

I would like to think that we are.

Cause Drogheda is all about community, whether from the Near Side or the Far,

We have always been proud of our heritage, our Crescent and our Star.

And from this sense of community, this Christmas Festival was born,

With a committee of dedicated townsfolk, working hard from dusk till dawn.

With the help of Drogheda Credit Union, The D Hotel, and Scotch Hall,

And other sponsors too numerous to mention,

Volunteers from all over the globe, Emergency Services and County Council intervention.

We stand in the shadow of Millmount, on this the 6th day of December,

To declare The Drogheda Christmas Festival here at last, and Merry Christmas from each committee member.

For our gift to you this Christmas, was our dedication and our vision,

To make this Festival happen for you and yours, and maybe start a new tradition.

So, go out with your families and loved ones, and enjoy the festive cheer,

Welcome strangers who come to our great town, tell them to spread the word that we’re here!

But remember to look up at Millmount, and listen as all the bells chime,

Stroll down the Old Abbey Lanes, up to the Viaduct railway lines,

Walk in the footsteps of your ancestors, see our new town through their ancient eyes.

For we are but custodians of this wonderful town, and it’s on community spirit that our town relies.