St Patrick’s Day Parade awards presentation

A ShoRT presentation ceremony took place last Friday morning upstairs in the elgee building, Market Sq. Dundalk for the parade entry winners and the sponsors.

Three awards were up for grabs for the parade entrants and the judges from the parade’s main sponsors, Louth County Council, Dundalk Credit Union and PayPal had a very difficult job deciding.

The Best overall entrant, sponsored by Louth County Council, went to Dance Kids Blues Brothers, while the Best Commercial entrant, sponsored by PayPal was awarded to the electric vehicles of Blackstone Motors, and the Best Youth entrant, sponsored by Dundalk Credit Union, was given to McGee School of Dance.

There were many eye-catching moments in the parade, including the Louth County Council floats, designed and made by Louthbased artist, Uli Liebetrau. Dundalk actor Alvaro Lucchesi was St Patrick on the first float, surrounded by huge handmade shamrocks, while Louth Rose emma Barry defied the rain in the second float which featured oversized Spring flowers and garden creatures.

The Dundalk St Patrick’s Day parade voluntary committee, which is made up of councillors Conor Keelan and Maeve Yore, along with Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú, Shane McBride, Dagan Fleming, Maria o’Toole and Anne Campbell, said they were pleased with the turnout for the parade.

Susan L Murphy, presenting the award for Best Parade entrant to Karen Cumiskey, Dance Kids Blues Brothers on behalf of sponsor Louth County Council with Shane McBride and Maria o’ toole from the Dundalk St Patrick’s Day Committee.

tom D’Arcy and Megan Hughes present Dervla McGee from McGee School of Dance the award for Best Youth entrant on behalf of sponsors Dundalk Credit union, with Cllr. Maeve Yore from the Dundalk St Patrick’s Day Committee