Countdown to St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Arklow
The countdown to this year’s parade has already and with just a week remaining, plans are at an advanced stage for this year’s parade in Arklow. If you have not already expressed your interest to take part, it is not too late to pickup an entry form at either Its’ Fresh, Main Street (Tommy Annesley’s Shop) or The Bridge Hotel. It is hoped to make this year’s parade bigger and better and ask everyone to come out, take part and support this wonderful event.
The new committee, pictured left with this year’s Grand Marshal are Colm Moules, Tommy Annesley, Tina O’Sullivan, Vinny Byrne, Donal Molloy, Mary Burke, Dicey Reilly, Sharon Whelan, Jim Hoey and Peter Kavanagh encourage everyone, both young and old to participate in the parade and make a special effort this year on Friday 17th March, 2017 to make it the best one ever.
(Photograph courtesy of Michael Kelly 087-1360208)
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade presents a great opportunity to showcase your business, club, society or group on possibly the busiest day of the year for Arklow. The audience will be made up of people from our own community, surrounding areas, tourists and visitors to Arklow so you’ll be showcasing to both potential and existing customers. Businesses are asked to decorate shop windows for the weekend, with the Hickson Shield being awarded for Best Shop Window Display.
Please Note : All Marching Groups to assemble on Mellow’s Avenue from 2.30pm on the day, Floats/Displays assemble on Yellow Lane from 2.5pm. Early arrival will facilitate organisation.
Route of Parade
The parade will start at 3.00pm sharp via Mellows Avenue, Navvy Hill, Abbey Street, Hudson’s Square and Main Street. Dispersal after the parade passes the platform at the Court House, Parade Ground, with groups going up St. Mary’s Road and Floats continuing up town. Categories: Float, Marching Group, Traditional Group, Commercial Display, Non Commercial Display, Agri/Horticultural Display. All are welcome.
The following Cups and Shields will be awarded. These awards are open to all participants and will be judged on the day.
- Best Float Chamber of Commerce Cup
- Best Commercial Display Bank of Ireland Shield
- Best Non-Commercial Display Arklow Traders Association Cup
- Best Marching Group The AIB Shield
- Best Traditional Group The Denis Naughter Perpetual Cup
- Most Entertaining Group The Paddy Lynch Memorial Award
- Best Agricultural/Horticultural Display Ernest Sharp Memorial Cup
- Most Topical Arklow Retail & Business Assoc. Shield.
- Best Shop Window Display The Hickson Shield.
- Best Vintage Display The John Swan Cup
- Youth Award Kitty Fisher Memorial Trophy
Arklow’s Primary Care Centre
A Letter of Intent has been issued to the preferred provider for delivery of the Primary Care Centre in Arklow. The design process of the building has commenced and planning application to be submitted later this year and planning approval obtained by the beginning of 2018. Construction of the building is expected to start in 2018 and completion expected by end of 2019.
Services at the Primary Care Centre will include dental services, addition services, adult mental health services, Care Doc and diagnostics.