St Patrick's Day parade gets green light in Cavan... again
The will-they-won't-they saga of the St Patrick's Day Parade in Cavan town appears to have concluded with agreement having been reached on the festivities going ahead.
A photocall has been arranged for this Sunday to promote the reinstated parade in the county town. Anyone intending to submit a float to compete for the Eddie Brady Perpetual Cup, is asked to contact the numbers below.
The committee, headed by local publican Michael Mooney, which had organised the parade in recent years was disbanded after the 2018 event, with the expectation that Cavan Chamber of Commerce would take over the reins.
However, it seems that the Chamber of Commerce were unaware of this expectation and had never any intention of becoming the primary driver of the annual event. The vast majority of its members' businesses would typically be closed on St Patrick's Day.
The festival costs between €8,000-€9,000 to run, and while there was a church gate collection held at the start of February, more finances were needed to cover the cost of such things as bands, security, insurance, and teh setting up of the reviewing stage.
With all sections - the former committee, the cathoairleach Madeleine Argue, and the Chamber of Commerce - lamenting the parade's demise, an eleventh hour intervention has unexpectedly revived its fortunes.
With newly sourced funding from Cavan County Council, coupled with an influx of new volunteers to the committee, inspired by the prospect of the parade falling by the wayside, a renewed enthusiasm for the Sunday, March 17th parade has emeged.
Anyone intending to submit a float should contact either Michael 087 6435 901 or Michelle 085 7415 889.
See next week's Anglo-Celt for details of the event.