Roscrea St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2007   You are in · RoscreaOnline · Community · Features

Roscrea’s 29th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is now being planned

Roscrea’s 2007 St. Patrick’s Day Parade being planned. Roscrea’s 29th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is now being planned.  The organising of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is an onerous task and Chairman Steve Crofton who also chaired the last four year’s parades is joined again this year by Marie Tooher – Secretary, Michael Murray - Treasurer, John Lupton – P.R.O., Arthur Crawford – Chief Marshall, Liam Shanahan, Brendan Keeshan, Mary Heffernan, Paddy Collison, Anne Keegan and Nicola Shanahan.  As usual this year’s Parade will commence at 3p.m. and will kick off from the old Dublin Road, through the town’s Church and Castle Streets, passing the Review Stand in the town’s Market Square and will then proceed through Main Street.  This year the Committee have again decided to bring some street entertainment into the Parade.  There will be Balloon Modelling and Face Painting from 1.30p.m., so make sure you are out early to get your child’s face painted so you wont be delayed in queues, there will also be cartoon characters, clowns, samba drummers etc to entertain the crowds on the day.  The Organising Committee have also organised a Magic Show in Grant’s Hotel for the children after the parade at 4p.m.  Admission is free. Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann’s Roscrea Branch will be playing in the Square from 1p.m.  Among the bands in this year’s parade will be the McDonagh Pipe Band, Richardson Academy of Music, Southside Marching Band., and the Puckane National School Band As the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is of very major benefit to the traders of the town who are opened on St. Patrick’s Day and which include publicans, convenience shops and restaurants, these groups are asked to contribute extra generously in defraying the escalating costs of holding the parade.  Without the assistance of the entire community it would not be possible to continue organising a Parade in Roscrea, as annually the cost increases and fund raising becomes more difficult for a small number of people.  The organising committee are therefore seeking floats from the Industrial, Business and Voluntary sector and also floats from schools, sports clubs, music groups, social clubs etc.  As usual there will be a parade narration from the Review Stand which will facilitate float entrants in advertising their businesses or promoting their organisations’ objectives.  Those seeking details of this year’s parade, wishing to include floats, offers of support etc. should contact Parade Secretary Marie Tooher at the Parade office, Leisure Centre Complex, New Line, Roscrea.  Telephone 0505 23183.  There are numerous prizes and trophies for entrants into the Parade and organisers are appealing to all sectors of the community, businesses, clubs, organisations, schools, community groups, residence associations, novelty items and individuals to bring their talents and messages onto the streets of Roscrea in a colourful, amusing and entertaining way. This year the Organising Committee have again decided to give cash prizes and the award categories are as follows:-   1.   Best Overall – Chamber of Commerce Perpetual Trophy - €400. In deciding the overall winner the judges will be looking for the entry which best promotes our true Irishness and shows the most creativity, effort, is most striking and imaginative, most entertaining, most artistic and has the most vision in Roscrea’s 29th parade. 2.   Best Sporting – R.C.T.L.C. Perpetual Trophy & €100. The winning entry in this section will be presented to the entry which shows the most effort in promoting its club, has the most colour, and involves the largest number of participants. 3.   Best Local Community Group – Charlie Doyle Perpetual Cup presented by R.C.D.C. & €100  It will be presented to the organisation, school or group which best reflects the true community spirit of Roscrea. 4.  . Best Visiting, Out of Town Entry – Tesco Perpetual Trophy & €100. Most unexpected, entertaining, colourful and in keeping with our true Irish spirit. 5.  Best Schools entry – Bernie’s Super Valu Perpetual Trophy & €100 The category will be open to all school entries both from the Primary and Post Primary Sectors.  The Perpetual Trophy which will be presented for the most creative, scientific, imaginative, most entertaining, and most artistic entry in Irish reflecting life in Roscrea in the future. 6.  Best Cultural and Traditional – John O’Donnell Perpetual Shield & €100.  Most entertaining and colourful, largest number of participants, largest number of instruments, largest number of props, with a true flavour of Irish music, song  and dance. 7.  Best Fancy Dress Adult – €100. Most original, most colourful and most topical. 8.  Fancy Dress Juvenile – €50. Most colourful, depicts the most famous, most unusual, most topical. 9.    Most Entertaining Band – Michael Delahunty Perpetual Trophy. Most colourful, largest number of participants including majorettes, musicians, largest variety of instruments, banners and props. 10.  Irish Language – Tiobraid Arann ag Labhairt. Float which best promotes the use of the Irish language, and brings out all aspects of our Irishness 11..   Best Local Industrial and Commercial – Lupton & Associates Perpetual Trophy. This trophy will be presented to the float adjudged to have made the most effort and to be the most colourful, most entertaining, and taking into account the number of participants. 12.  Best entry from a Local Club or Organisation sponsored by Tidy Towns Committee. Which best promotes working in partnership in a true community spirit in the interest of our town and is in keeping with the ideals of Tidy Towns, promoting a clean, safe environment. 13.  Special Merit Award – St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee. To be presented on the recommendation of the judges on the day. Special Award – Shop Window Display. For the shop which best promotes an awareness of tourism in Roscrea.   Sponsored by Roscrea Heritage.