Potholes prevent Paddy’s Day parade in Meath

Over 8,000 people are expected to take part in the main event in Dublin but for one Irish town, potholes are preventing them from staging their annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.

We have seen some pretty big potholes recently, but we haven’t heard of them having such a serious impact as cancelling an event.

Organisers of the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Athboy, Co. Meath say that they have been  forced to cancel the event, which was due to feature over 50 floats and bands, due to potholes along the route.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Treasurer Frances Walsh said the uneven surface and pitted surface made “the main street a disaster area”.

“We were afraid the floats on the tractors and trailers might not be safe. A playgroup said they might have to ask parents of the children for their permission. We had to explain the situation to the underwriters and their advice was not to hold it.

Meath County Council has begun a €1.5m programme of works to reinstate the road and footpaths, which it says will take 32 weeks to complete.

No Paddy’s pothole parade in Athboy this year then.