Ashbourne St Patrick’s Day parade will not go ahead this year

The St Patrick’s Day parade in Ashbourne will not go ahead this year, as there is currently no local group in place with the resources and capacity required to organise the event.

The parade had been organised in recent years by a small number of volunteers, including former members of the Ashbourne Chamber of Commerce, after the local chamber ceased operating as a standalone body and became part of the wider Meath Chamber.

Those involved say that while community support for the parade has always been strong on the day itself, the scale of planning and preparation required in the months beforehand is significant.

A former organiser said there is no longer a committee in place to carry out the work needed.

“People are always very willing to volunteer on the day, which is great,” he said. “But organising a parade like this takes three or four months of work in advance. You need an organisation, a committee of people, and the right skill set to make it happen.”

He said requirements such as road closure licences, insurance and stewarding plans mean it is not possible to organise a parade at short notice.

“It’s simply too late for this year,” he said. “Those things have to be applied for well in advance.”

A social media post shared this week by former organisers said many of those who had previously been involved had since stepped back, leaving insufficient resources to organise an event of that scale.

“If however there are any organisations that feel they have the resources to take on the organisation of this event, we would encourage them to make contact,” the post said.

Local supporters and businesses who have backed the parade in recent years were also thanked for their support.

It is hoped that the pause this year may allow time for a new group or organisation to come forward, with a view to the parade returning in future years.