Roscrea prepares for 43rd St Patrick's Day Parade

Roscrea's Community Development Council’s sub-committee under the Chairmanship of Shane Lee are finalising plans for Roscrea’s 43rd annual successive St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which begins at 3.30p.m. on Friday, March 17, our National Feast Day.

The organising committee are seeking your participation and support and hope this year to have representation from all community groups in the town to make the 2023 parade a truly community event.

The Parade Organisers extend a welcome to all those who wish to enter a float in this year’s parade. Float entries are free and while floats are welcome to turn up on the day at the assembly point for the parade which is on the old Tesco car park on Lourdes Road.

The organisers request that if possible floats would give details beforehand to Parade Secretary Marie on (086) 0755680 to facilitate the parade narrative and thus give the float and its organisers due exposure and publicity.

Cash Prizes

The Organising Committee have decided to give out a cash prize to each winning entry in the following categories:- Best Overall Entry: Chamber of Commerce Perpetual Trophy and €200 sponsored by Roscrea Chamber of Commerce, Best Business Float – Lupton & Associates Perpetual Trophy and €100, Best local community group/sports club – Roscrea Tidy Towns Trophy and €100, Special Recognition Award - Roscrea Credit Union Perpetual Trophy and €100, Special Merit Award – St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee and €100.

Therefore the committee are urging all entrants to make a special effort in the hope of winning the cash prizes.

Adrian Hewson Perpetual Trophy

Adrian Hewson (RIP) pictured in Roscrea. Photo: D. Keegan

Adrian Hewson passed away suddenly on October 1st last. Adrian was part of the Organising Committee of Junior Chamber Roscrea who organised the first St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 1979 and it has been held every year since with the exception of the Covid years of 2020 and 2021.

Adrian’s fellow Junior Chamber member of past years and his friend Anne Ralph is donating a Perpetual Trophy to the Parade Committee in his honour, whom they will award to one of the Parade participants each year.

This year’s parade in Roscrea will be particularly poignant for many on the Parade Committee, as it will be the first of the 43 consecutive St. Patrick’s Day Parades in Roscrea without Adrian’s physical presence, but each of the organisers are quick to point out that Adrian will be with them in spirit for this year’s parade.

Shop Window Competition

The organising committee are also this year holding its annual Shop Window competition with 1st , 2nd and 3rd prizes, the winners of which will be announced from the Review Stand.

Entry to the parade is free and the Organising Committee are inviting individuals, groups, organisations, clubs, businesses, novelty items and community interest groups to enter floats and add to the diversity of the parade.

For further information or an entry form contact Shane Lee (086) 3296667 or Marie Tooher (086) 0755680.