Call for volunteers pays off as Navan prepares for parade

As well as Navan's colourful St Patrick's Day parade, there will be market stalls, music in the streets and children's entertainment in the town on 17th March.

There are ambitious plans for St Patrick's Day in the town this year following a recent appeal for more volunteers, which saw several new faces join the committee to help organise the festivities.

Committee member Karen Ball, who had warned the future of the parade was in doubt because of the small number of volunteers was delighted at the number of new faces who attended a recent meeting.

“The new members make all the difference. It is great to have more hands on board. We have a lot of local businesses supporting us and we have done up posters for businesses supporting us.”

There will be market stalls and music at Kennedy Plaza throughout the day and children's entertainment including face painting, magicians and balloon modelling in the Community Centre on Trimgate Street from 12.30 to 4pm, while the parade is at 2pm, starting at the Enterprise Centre.

For the first time last year, the parade had a section of the route designated specially for all people with autism and their families, and this will be continued this year. Canon Row will be a noise-free zone for the parade to ensure that those on the autism spectrum will enjoy the event without stress or discomfort.

This year, the children's entertainment in the Community Centre will also have an autism friendly period from 11.30 to 12.15pm.

Any families wishing to avail of the autism friendly entertainment and parade route should contact the committee Navan Shamrock Festival Facebook page or Instagram.