Dundalk St Patrick's Day Parade will not go ahead due to 'lack of funding'

Dundalk's annual St Patrick's Day parade not go ahead as planned due to a lack of funding, Louth County Council have confirmed.

In a statement, Louth County Council said it is disappointed the festival will not go ahead. 

"In recent weeks, the Council engaged with the Dundalk St Patrick’s Day Committee to explore potential alternative arrangements for the 2026 festival. While these efforts did not result in a viable solution for this year, the Council will continue to work collaboratively with the Committee as planning begins for the 2027 festival," it said. 

Independent councillor for Dundalk Maeve Yore had said earlier this week, at the January meeting of Louth County Council that she had been informed the parade will not go ahead. 

She asked the council why it will not go ahead before saying it is a lack of funding. 

"It's one of the largest community events annually in the county. The festival grants is a great initiative but it doesn't cover the cost of the festival," she said. 

Cllr Yore said she believed bigger festivals, like the Dundalk St Patrick's Day parade would receive more funding.

Thomas McEvoy, Deputy Chief Executive with Louth County Council said is aware the festival will not go ahead, but noted the festival is not run by the council. 

He said the organising committee that took over after 2025 festival felt they weren't in a position financially to run it. 

Mr McEvoy said Louth County Council have looked at alternative arrangements for 2026, including a collaboration between the council, Dundalk Chamber of Commerce and Dundalk Credit Union. He said a meeting is planned for March to plan a festival. 

He also confirmed the festival grants scheme has a budget of €200,000 but said it has to be divided up throughout the county.

"We do have a cap of 8,000 on that so we can get as many festivals as possible," he said. 

Read Next: Dundalk Business Expo opens doors to future careers for local students

Cllr Yore also called for Louth County Council and other local authorities to "boycott America and its current fascist regime, which interrogates and interrupts other democratic nations and is turning on their own people". 

She asked if Louth County Council's annual St Patrick's Day visit to New York City will still go ahead this year. 

Mr McEvoy said the visit is "always at the invitation of the County Louth Society of New York" before saying it is not a political event. 

He said meeting political dignitaries is not on the agenda.

"As well as the diaspora we hold an economic agenda, we promote Louth. It's not a political event".

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.