St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2008   You are in · RoscreaOnline · Community · Features

Roscrea’s 30th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade being planned.

Roscrea’s 30th Annual successive St. Patrick’s Day Parade is now being planned.  Again this Parade is being organised by R.C.D.C.  The organising of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is an onerous task and Chairman Steve Crofton who also chaired the last five years’ parades is joined again this year by Marie Tooher – Secretary, Susan Crawford – Asst. Secretary, Michael Murray - Treasurer, John Lupton – P.R.O., Arthur Crawford – Chief Marshall, Liam Shanahan, Brendan Keeshan, Mary Heffernan and Paddy Collison.  Guest of Honour The 30th St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be reviewed by Mr. Adrian Hewson who chaired the 1st Parade in 1979.  Adrian has been involved in each parade since and so it is fitting that he should be Guest of Honour for the 30th Parade.  The first parade in 1979 and many successive Annual Parades were organised by Junior Chamber Roscrea.  Mr. Hewson is a former President of Junior Chamber Roscrea and is an honorary life member of the Junior Chamber organisation being a Senator of Jaycees International. Parade Entrants The hardworking committee have now finalised plans for the parade and are appealing to clubs, organisations, residents associations, industrial and commercial interests in the town to participate in the parade on the day and bring their talents and messages onto the streets of Roscrea in a colourful, amusing and entertaining way. 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.  The Parade Committee are also appealing to groups and individuals who may have musical or other such talents to enhance the celebrations on the day by performing on the streets. Shop Window Display The Organising Committee have asked the retailers of the town to decorate their shop windows.  There is a Perpetual Trophy available which best promotes an awareness of tourism in Roscrea sponsored by Roscrea Heritage.  There are also a large number of perpetual trophies for the various category entries with a cash prize of €400 for the overall prize. Details on the Parade The assembly point for the parade is the old Dublin Road.  Assembly takes place at 2.30p.m. while the parade will begin to roll at 3p.m.  The route of the parade will include Church Street, Castle Street and pass by the Review Stand in Market Square and will then proceed through Main Street.     There will be an ecumenical ceremony prior to the parade in Damer House to bless the shamrock.  Immediately after the parade there will be a Family Magic Show by ABC Magic in Damer Court Hotel commencing at 4p.m. sharp.  Admission is free.   This year the Organising Committee have again decided to bring some street entertainment into the Parade.  There will be Balloon Modelling and Face Painting outside Shaws 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 be a Bouncing Castle in the town’s Glebe Park to entertain the children before the parade from 1pm – 3p.m.  Admission is free.  There will also be cartoon characters, clowns, stilt walker, fire eater, jugglers etc to entertain the crowds on the day.  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 and the Puckane School Band. Offers of Support 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.  Those seeking details of this year’s parade, wishing to include floats, offers of support etc. should contact Parade Secretary Marie Tooher or Susan Crawford Asst. Secretary at the Parade office, Leisure Centre Complex, New Line, Roscrea.  Telephone 0505 23183 / 23185.