DUNDALK’S FREE NEWSPAPER Family Addiction Support Network welcomes Minister to Louth Page 4
Ó Murchú demands urgent action to tackle cost of fuel Page 8
Grace nominated for Young Film Maker of the Year Page 19
Wednesday, 18th March, 2026. Vol. 19, Issue 11 • 9A, Crowe Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth Tel: 042 932 0888 | Email: editorial@dundalkleader.com; advertising@dundalkleader.com
GRAND PARADE! By Paul Byrne
THE Dundalk St Patrick’s Day Parade drew huge crowds to the town centre as the annual parade to celebrate St Patrick made its way around the streets of Dundalk yesterday afternoon. The theme for this year’s parade was ‘A World of Imagination’ and the parade celebrated Irish culture in all its forms through music , art, dance and performance. This was the parade that almost ever was with only a late intervention from a newly formed St Patrick’s Day Committee ensuring the show went ahead after it was announced in January that there would be no parade this year due to ‘funding challenges’. Positive discussions between local bodies and stakeholders including the St Patrick’s Day Organising Committee, Louth County Council, Dundalk Municipal District Councillors, Dundalk Credit Union, Dundalk BIDS and the Dundalk Chamber of Commerce ensured the parade would indeed take place and yesterday at 1pm Sgt Charlie O’Hagan, Lt Conor English and Sgt Riccardo Lucchesi officially signalled the start of the parade as they set off at 1pm from the parade’s starting point in St Patrick Street. Members from Carlingford Pipe Band make their way up Church Street during yesterday’s Continued on Page 2 St Patrick’s Day Parade in Dundalk. More St Patrick’s Day Pics on pages 2, 14 and 15.