St Patrick’s Day: Your Guide to every parade and event with times and activities countywide

Meath will celebrate St Patrick's Day with parades big and small taking place across villages and towns across the county.

Hard working committees have put together spectacular programmes of entertainment to celebrate the national holiday with street entertainment, mini funfairs, children's entertainment and artisan foodstalls among the attractions laid on in various towns and villages.

In NAVAN, there will be market stalls and music at Kennedy Plaza throughout the day on St Patrick's Day and children's entertainment including face painting, magicians and balloon modelling in the Community Centre on Trimgate Street from 12.30 to 4pm. 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.

The Navan Shamrock Festival Committee has revealed this year's Grand Marshall is Ger Cullen who set up the TAG Meath Autism Group who are based in the Church grounds in Navan.

Ger and her husband Niall set up a Youth Club for children with Autism in Claremont Stadium a number of years ago. Two years ago they moved to a permanent premises at St. Mary's Church where they developed a state of the art facility.

"She is a tremendous community leader and it was a unanimous decision by both the general public and the committee to appoint Ger this years Grand Marshall.

"We hope to see you all at the parade next Monday to cheer Ger, her group and all of the participants on."

TRIM'S parade will start off from the Ring Road at 3.30pm and this year long serving local tidy towns volunteer Noel Rochford will be the grand marshal. A colour party from the defence forces and the Forresters band will lead the parade and Gardai, Trim Fire Service and the Irish Red Cross will all have vehicles in the parade.

Before the parade there will be music from 11am at the reviewing stands with performances from Pat Kelly, Mary O'Connor, Aoife Furlong, Mary Hoey and Trim Brass Band. There will also be performances from the Carney School of Dancing. MC for the parade will be Damien Reilly, helped out by Willie Fay.

The new Meath Rose Ella Bannon will be in town before the parade starts for a meet and greet and will be handing out flags to the children along the streets. Again this year, there were will be a dedicated sensory area on Patrick Street where the vehicles will be asked not to honk horns and the parade will pass quietly by this area.

New for this year's line up is a sensory party organised by Trim Autism Friendly Town from 1.30pm to 3pm upstairs in the Castle Arch Hotel with children's entertainment, arts and crafts and a visit from St Patrick himself. As places are limited please email trimautismfriendlytown@gmail.com to book a place.

BALLIVOR will host its third annual parade in the village starting at An Ghleib and finishing up outside the garda station. Organisers are encouraging all local groups and organisations to take part and it promises to be a great afternoon in the village. Local businesses are also being encouraged to decorate their windows and all to the festival atmosphere.

The Grand Marshal for the Ardee St Patrick's Day parade this year will be local businessman, John Caffrey, organiser of the annual golf competition in Ardee which has raised thousands for Ardee Hospice over the years. He also ensured that every Christmas, Santa makes it to Ardee to meet the local children and switch on the lights. The oarade start at 3pm and will proceed from The Fairgreen to the Church of the Nativity.

The much anticipated KELLS St Patrick’s Day celebrations are due to get underway at 3pm at the Fairgreen. Clubs and floats are asked to meet from 2pmand entry forms for clubs, floats, community groups and businesses are available from the Bookmarket Cafe and Nic Nax. Kells Youthreach and the St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee will be facilitating the sensory section of the parade - a special area from the top of Carrick Street through to Lord Edward Street, where parade participants are asked to avoid making loud noises, like sirens, horns, whistles and music. All parade participants are encouraged to blow bubbles while walking through the sensory area. Parade participants can bring their own bubbles or the committee is organising to have some bubble mixture handed out. The green space beside sensory area has also been designated as a quiet section with space to run around for those who might need it. This has been a wonderful initiative by the learners of Kells Youthreach, who are striving to create an inclusive event for everyone in our community, so all support is appreciated.

The theme for this year's ATHBOY parade which commences at 12.30pm is 'The Four Seasons'. The parade will follow its usual route from the Fair Green to the Convent Community Centre and there will be plenty of music and colour to keep the crowds entertained with prizes for the best floats and entries. The committee is encouraging local groups and businesses "to get creative, have fun, and bring each season to life in a way that only this incredible community can!"

The OLDCASTLE parade will bring the town alive with floats, music and more. It starts at 12pm at Gilsen Park and there will be music fun as it proceeds through the town. With a prize fund of €800, it promises to be a colourful and enjoyable event for all the family.

ENFIELD St Patrick's Day Parade will set off as usual from the GAA grounds at 3pm and proceeds along the Main Street finishing up at the Bridge House. Local groups and organisations will be taking part in what promises to be a colourful affair with prizes for the best floats and entries, which will be presented later that day in the Bridge House Hotel.

St Patrick’s Day parade in MULLAGH will start at 5pm on 17th March. The Mullagh Tourism and Community Development Committee said they received overwhelming demand from the community and local businesses, and are delighted to bring back this year's parade.

KILCOCK is also gearing up for the annual St Patrick’s Day Parade, which takes place at 1.30pm. This year's theme is 'Vikings - raiders, pirates, traders, explorers'. It begins up at Spin Bridge and travels down past Abbeyfield, past St Cocoas Church and onto the viewing stand which is located in the Square. Afterwards, the annual Duck Race takes place in the Harbour at 2.45pm.

In KINGSCOURT the parade kicks off at 1pm at the Dublin Road with six times World Handball Champion, Paul Brady, leading the way as grand marhsal. Walking groups, colourful floats and four bands are expected to participate.

In ASHBOURNE spectators can look forward to a kiddies Funfair, artisan food stalls and many other attractions. The Star of the Day will be the St. Patrick;s Day Parade featuring local groups, businesses and sports clubs. This year’s theme is Emerald Dreams - a celebration of Ireland's deep-rooted traditions and its bright future. Community groups, sports clubs and voluntary organisations can all enter free of charge and businesses can enter the parade starting at just €120 per entry. This year we have including more musical participants in the parade than previously to ensure the Parade is a lively event.

This year, we are starting things a little earlier with the market stall and music commencing at 12pm and the Parade will commence at 2.00pm. We are delighted to confirm High Street Ashbourne as our lead sponsor and thank them for their continued support. This year we are recognising the tremendous contribution made by The Ashbourne Community School who celebrate their 30th Anniversary this year. The ACS has been instrumental in educating the young people of Ashbourne and we ask all former students to join in the celebration.

After a two year absence St Patrick is visiting DUNBOYNE again to enjoy its festival and parade with local Special Olympics Gold & Silver medalist - Emma Costello acting as grand marshal! The theme this year is Irish Myths and Legend. There will be plenty of entertainment with food stalls and amusements in the village centre for families. Local band, Jack&Joe will be hosting the stage this year and will welcome some of our local Irish dancers on stage after the parade. The Dunboyne Musical Society will also appear on stage to sing a couple of songs from their latest production, The Wedding Singer. The parade is due to take place at 2pm so be sure to come along and enjoy the celebrations!

Meanwhile SLANE St Patrick's Day parade will be celebrating its 30th anniversary. Kicking off at 3.30pm expect lots of extra, colourful floats and free popcorn and candy floss in the village garden for all the kiddies plus goodie bags that will be handed out on the day four of which will contain a golden ticket where the lucky winners can collect their prize in Mimnagh’s Gala shop in Slane! There will be live music in the village square and the village garden before and after the parade with performances from local musicians. This year the parade is introducing a sensory marquee in the Slane Garda barracks for families with sensory needs.

RATOATH is set to burst with Irish pride and festive cheer this St. Patrick's Day, with a packed schedule of events promising fun for all the family. From vibrant parades to bustling markets, the village is preparing for a celebration to remember. The heart of the celebrations will be the St. Patrick's Day parade, commencing at 12 pm and running until 2 pm. Expect a dazzling display of community spirit, with local clubs and community groups marching proudly. Floats from village businesses will add to the spectacle, showcasing the vibrant local enterprise that makes Ratoath so special. The excitement doesn't stop with the parade! A thrilling funfair will be in full swing from Saturday, March 15th, right through to Monday, March 17th. With rides and attractions for all ages, it's the perfect place to create lasting memories. For those seeking unique treasures, an artisan market will showcase the talents of local entrepreneurs. Discover handcrafted goods and support local enterprise. Children can enjoy face painting, while a variety of other attractions will add to the festive atmosphere.