Newroutefortown’sparade
A new route through the town of Drogheda is part of the revamped St Patrick’s Day parade.
Details of the event will be released at a launch in the Westcourt Hotel on Thursday.
It has also been revealed that long time parade servant, Isabel Sanroma, will be the Grand Marshal.
The Coca- Cola Perpetual Trophy, awarded annually to the Winners of the Best Entry into the St. Patrick’s Day Parade was returned by Patrica McGown, proprietor of Scholars and last years winner, to this year’s Grand Marshal, Isabel, last week.
Julie Plunkett from Coca- Cola who have sponsored Drogheda’s St Patrick’s Day Parade since 1986 explained the trophy was designed specifically by the chief ’s at Coca- Cola HQ, Atlanta, Georgia for the Drogheda Parade. This was to celebrate the company’s appreciation of how a town like Drogheda became a significant player in it’s world wide market and a major part of their European brand. Julie was also able to pledge the company’s continued support for the annual event.
She thanked the outgoing Committee for all their hard work and dedication for the last 33 years and said how she was looking forward to working with the new Committee.
Isabel, Parade Director for the last 33 years, had only a few weeks previously announced that this years parade was cancelled in midst of rising insurance costs and a difficulty in finding additional funding.
Once the this devasting news got out into the local community it did not take long for the civic pride and true spirit of Drogheda to rise to the occasion. This spirit that not so long ago brought us Fleadh Ceoil Na hEireann, made it easy for the
Wogan Family of Wogan’s HomeBuild Depot and whose generous, last minute contribution gave the parade a life line. Their support has ensured a new committee, under the umbrella of Drogheda Festivals, have been able to come together as a cross section community group who have been working tirelessly over these last few weeks to ensure the parade went ahead.
The theme of this years Parade is ‘ The (true) spirit of Drogheda.’ This gives huge scope for any potential entry to reflect on Drogheda’s rich cultural and historical past while also including many of its more famous sons and daughters.
Patricia Mc Gowen from Scholar’s said that they were hoping to hold onto the Trophy but are expecting some even stiffer competition from the other entrants this year. ‘We are so happy that the Parade is going ahead and hope that everyone comes out and supports this Drogheda Institution on our National Holiday.’
Sarah Taafe, Chairperson of Drogheda Festivals, spoke how the new Committee have been beavering away behind the scenes, linking up with the previous committee and facing many challenges that are now happily resolved and finally we are able to announce that a new route has been given the green light by Louth County Council . The cooperation and support of Sergeant
Donal McGivern and the local Gardai was essential in making this happen. This new Route will officially unveiled at a public launch of the festival next Thursday the 20th of February in The Westcourt Hotel at 4:45PM. “We hope that as many groups and businesses from Drogheda and surrounding areas will participate in this year’s Parade and if you can’t take part, why not volunteer and be part of the start of all things new and Drogheda Festivals.’
She was also delighted to announce on the night that application forms are now available from Festival Secretary Sandra Gough via email: sandra.gough@hotmail.com .