St Patrick’s Day Parade returns

DUNDALK will see the return of the St Patrick’s Day parade next month after the voluntary committee received confirmation from Louth County Council of their sponsorship of the event.

Along with the council, Dundalk Credit Union and PayPal are also sponsors of the parade in Dundalk.

The March 17 parade, which will start at 1pm, has the theme of ‘Urban Green’ and will feature many local community and business organisations showcasing the very best that Dundalk has to offer.

There will also be live music, and a family fun zone, after the parade, so that families can spend more time in the town after the main event.

The committee, which is chaired by Cllr. Conor Keelan, had been seeking sponsorship in order to stage the event and the council stepped in with funding last week, making the parade possible.

Cllr. Keelan, who is on the Dundalk St Patrick’s Day Committee with Cllr. Maeve Yore, Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú, Shane McBride, Dagan Fleming, Anne Campbell and Maria O’Toole, said he was delighted with the council’s response for funding.

He said: ‘Without the assistance of Louth County Council, the parade would not be possible this year. We are delighted they have come on board and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back to the town for a great, traditional parade after three years of having no event’. Cllr. Keelan said it is vital that people who are involved in community and sporting groups, as well as businesses, ‘come together to join in the parade’.

He said: ‘I hope everyone gets behind us to put Dundalk back on the St Patrick’s Day map again. It has been difficult getting back after Covid 19 and I would like to see as many groups as possible take part in the parade, under the theme of ‘Urban Green’.

‘The environment has been to the forefront of minds, and this is an opportunity to celebrate and put sustainability and environmental awareness at the forefront of people’s minds.

‘There is a lot of work to do, but we hope with the support of the town, that we will be able to stage a wonderful parade this year’. Anyone wishing to take part in the parade, or to help out in any way, should email: stpatsdundalk@gmail.com as soon as possible.

John raises €1300 for Dogs for the Disabled

JOHN Morgan from the Point Road, Dundalk succeeded in raising €1,300 for the Dogs for the Disabled.

The Cork-based charity founded in 2007 aims to improve the lives of children and adults living with physical disabilities in Ireland.

The charity delivers 28 fully trained assistance dogs / therapy dogs each year to people who are profoundly disabled.

Four years ago, John, who uses a wheelchair, received Jamie, a beautiful golden retriever to be his assistance dog.

“Jamie had undergone two years of intensive training before he came to me. It costs €20,000 and two years of training for the dogs to complete the training programme,” said John.

“There are currently three dogs in Dundalk who have completed the programme. One has recently retired and the owner of that dog has a pup in training.

“The dogs are trained to assist so in the morning Jamie will help me to get my stockings, and braces and my shoes and anything I need.”

John added: “He can get anything I need off the ground for example my keys or wallet. Jamie is sixyears-old and he will retire when he is ten.

“But like my friend, I will keep him when he retires. I wouldn’t give Jamie away for love nor money.”

John wanted to give something back to Dogs for the Disabled so he recently organised a raffle of two hampers for the charity.

He succeeded in raising €1,300 and is pictured with one of the prize winners, Vincent Jackson, in Boyd’s Stores, Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk.