Final preparations in place for Edenderry parade

Edenderry's St Patrick's Day Parade gets underway at 2.30pm on Tuesday and, as always, it promises plenty of fun, colour and spectacle for participants and spectators alike.

This is the 15th consecutive year of the popular parade, and this year's Grand Marshal is none other than the legendary Jack Doyle, who spent all his working life as a fitter in Bord na Mona.

An accomplished footballer, he was part of the great 1972 team from Edenderry FC which won the first cup for Edenderry town. He is also a recipient of the Hall of Fame award in 2014, and, having been faced with a serious health challenge in recent years due to a stroke, he has made a remarkable recovery and is deeply honoured to have been chosen as the 2026 Grand Marshal.

The Edenderry parade will be led by St Joseph's Accordion Band from Mountrath and will also feature the talented students from the town's own Eden School of Music. There will be plenty of colourful floats, and parade chairman, Shane Loughlin, is strongly encouraging local businesses and organisations to come on board for this year's parade by entering a float.

The organisers have some very attractive prizes on offer, including a €100 prize for the best steward on the day, and a €200 prize for the best dressed window in Edenderry.

"We could have upwards of 6,000 people on the streets of Edenderry for the parade next Tuesday," said chairman, Shane Loughlin, "so we want to give them an unforgettable afternoon of fun and entertainment. We are urging everyone, young and old, to come out and support our local parade."