Page 10 - COBH EDITION 15th FEBRUARY DIGITAL VERSION

Cobh St Patrick’s Day Parade cancelled for 2019

At a planning meeting last night it was regrettably decided to cancel this year’s Cobh St Pat-
rick’s Day Parade.
See You in Cobh have issued the following statement this morning:

The financial projections show a loss of €5000 this year if we continue with the parade. No
fundraising event and €1200 more this year for crowd control barriers added to the €2200
that was the loss in 2018 are what makes the difference. See You in Cobh was able to absorb
losses on the parade in past years because of a financial cushion built up through the “An
Audience With” concerts that were the brainchild of the late Cllr Claire Cullinane.

Financial considerations were just one issue in making the decision however.
A complete lack of volunteers coming forward to help with organising and to act as stewards
also contributed to the decision.

The final straw was comparing the list of entries from the 2012 parade when there were 58
entries to that in 2018 when there were just 26 entries and the parade lasted a mere 25 min-
utes. St Patrick was counted as one of those entries!

Interest in participation has dropped to an all time low with virtually no businesses participat-
ing and with a few notable exceptions entries lack a real WOW factor.
The organisers can only do so much. The effort and expense involved in organising a parade
that has 20 entries and 100 entries is virtually the same. Providing safe assembly areas, a
fully barriered route, a reviewing stand, a PA system and MC, entertainment, a town be-
decked in bunting, official road closures, fundraising, extended public liability insurance, an
entry form with a carefully considered theme are just not enough when more people in Cobh
cannot pull up their sleeves and make a decent effort to be a part of it.

For 2019 there will be no parade in Cobh.
Hopefully there will be people interested enough to reinvent the Cobh St Patrick’s Day Parade
for 2020 and many more of the people of Cobh will support their efforts and be a part of it -
making that parade something that we can all be proud of.
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Great Island Area Projects Ltd. Community Employment Scheme
has the following vacancies:

• Special Needs Assistant required for Rosewood Grove (based in Cobh Community Centre)
• Groundsperson required for Cobh Pirates RFC
On the job training will be provided and courses to secure future employment will be encour-
aged. No experience necessary as full training provided.
Positions are 19.5hrs per week.
Eligibility to participate on CE is generally linked to those who are 21 years of age or over.
Applicants must also be in receipt of an Irish social welfare payment for 1 year or more.
If you are interested, please email your CV to: sarahhoulihan@greatislandapl.com
Drop in/post to: Great Island Area Projects Ltd., ‘The Lodge’, Rushbrooke Tennis Club, Cobh.