Aodhán and Oran Tomkins braved the wet day to see the Ratoath parade last year. Photo: Jess Glynn

Parade preparations are well under way in Ashbourne, Ratoath and Dunboyne as each of the towns gets ready for up coming St Patrick's day festivities.

Months of work goes into organising these popular events, and it's the local chambers of commerce that put in the hard work for Ashbourne and Ratoath, while in Dunboyne a new committee of community volunteers will be overseeing the town's first ever St Patrick's parade next month.

Ratoath

The Ratoath parade is scheduled to begin at 12:30pm on Sunday, 17th March, and will take on the same route as previous years. The theme for 2013 is 'times gone past'. Always a popular day out for local residents, the Ratoath parade will feature a large number of floats and walking groups from different sections of the community.

Groups that wish to take part in the parade should contact Ratoath Chamber of Commerce at info@ratoathchamber.ie or (087) 8170047. Booking a place is essential is you wish to take part in the parade.

Ashbourne

Following swiftly on after the Ratoath parade, the Ashbourne St Patrick's Day parade will begin at 2:30pm on 17th March. Similarly themed, the parade with feature 'classic cartoons of times past'. All participants are asked to incorporate the theme into their parade entry.

The parade will begin at Lidl and continue up towards Dunnes Stores. It will then travel down Frederick Street, and loop back up Killegland Street back to Lidl.

Groups wishing to participate should contact Alan Tobin on (087) 6117669 or Kevin O'Brien on (087) 6263404 or email ashbournechamber@gmail.com

Dunboyne

Dunboyne's St Patrick's Day festival parade will take place on bank holiday Monday, 18th March, beginning at 12:00pm.

Parade floats will assemble in Dunboyne Industrial Estate at 11.30am, and the convoy will make its way down the old Navan Road, through Dunboyne Village towards Clonee, finishing at the Dunboyne Community Centre.

The deadline for entry for floats is Monday, 25th February. Any business or voluntary organisation interested in having a float partake in the parade, or in advertising at the parade, should contact Agatha at agatha.spfdunboyne@gmail.com or Noel Leonard on (087) 2345186.