Welcome to the 2012 Navan Shamrock Festival, the 10th running of the premier annual festival event in Navan town!

Navan Town Council, Navan Garda and Navan Shamrock Festival Committee asks you to 'travel smart' this year. Where possible, please use public transport, a bike or leg power to go to this year's festival events.

The Navan Shamrock Festival Committee would like to extend a big thank-you to all who came out this year to support our national holiday. In spite of the weather, the wonderful turnout for the Parade made it a St. Patrick's Day to remember!

The winners as chosen by Navan Town Council for following categories are:

• Best Shop Window Display Winner : Fox's Flowerhill
• Best Overall Parade Float Winner : Dunderry Fair
• Best Business Float Winner : Airport Driving School
• Best Community Parade Float Winner : Park Villa
• Most Environmentally-Friendly Parade Float Winner : Youthreach Progression
• Best Club Float Winner : Midget Car Racers
• Best Schools Participant Winner : Ard Ri School
  
  Award ceremony and prizes will be presented in the Stonehouse on Friday 20th April 2012 at 9pm.
  

Antóin MacGabhan
Antóin is a Co.Cavan man by birth,  growing  up in Mullahoran, an area steeped in tradition, so it is no wonder that he took to the fiddle at an early age.   By the time he reached his early twenties, Antóin had progressed to become one of the top musicians in the country, winning numerous awards including two Senior All-Ireland fiddle titles at the Fleadh Cheoil.
Antóin married Bernie, a champion traditional dancer, and settled near Ashbourne back in the 1970’s where they raised a family of top class musicians and dancers.   Both Antóin himself and family have recorded numerous albums over the years and produced a remarkable double-album ‘Lámh ar lámh’ in aid of Cancer Research, featuring many  young musicians and singers from Co. Meath and further afield. Antóin is a founder member of theCill Dhéagláin (Ashbourne ) branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann and over the past 25 years has been responsible for the development of top quality traditional players in this area, many of whom have gone on to win honours in the County, Provincial and All-Ireland Fleadhanna Cheoil.  He is most generous with his time and dedication when it comes to recognising and developing young talent, and assisting the organization both at home and abroad in performing and promoting our music, song and dance. We are delighted and honoured to  welcome Antóin to the Navan Shamrock Festival to give us a talk on the history of traditional music in Co. Meath.

FIRST GRAND MARSHALL FOR NAVAN'S ST PATRICK'S DAY PARADE

Navan Shamrock Festival wish to congratulate Tommy Darby, the legendary accordion box player and Honorary President of Ceoltais Navan Branch,  on being chosen by Navan Town Council, the main sponsors of the www.navanshamrockfestival.com to become the first Grand Marshal of the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Navan. This achievement is in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Community of Navan over many years.  Tommy is a volunteer and able Committee Member of Navan Shamrock Festival.

THE OLYMIC TORCH FOR MEATH

The inspiring gesture of the proposal to allow the symbolic visit of the London 2012 Olympic Torch to Ireland, shines a light on the rich heritage and sporting ambitions of the island of Ireland, both North and South and in particular Navan Co. Meath.

Teltown, Navan, County Meath is hallowed ground for many, as it was the arena for the hosting of the famous illustrious Tailteann Games which began in Ireland in 1887. This seven day festival event, hosted by the chieftains of Ireland, attracted many great warriors and champions to partake.  Impressive names took part such as Oisin and Finn McCool, Commander of Fianna Eireann, the legendry army of Ireland. The Tailteann Games were Ireland’s first great national festival. This event formed the centre of the sporting and cultural life of Ireland for many generations and is the inspiration behind many of today’s sporting associations. Meath GAA proudly named their headquarters in Navan ‘Parc Tailteann’ in honour of and as a testimonial to the famous festival once held on the banks of the Blackwater. The Tailteann Games are further commerated by the holding of the annual Ras Tailteann known as the An Post Ras Tailteann, the around Ireland bicycle race.

It is not generally known that the famous Olympic Games drew their inspiration from the more ancient games which originated in Ireland.  This occurred when ancient Greek merchants discovered the Tailteann Games in progress, while trading with the Eastern Sea Board of Ireland. They were influenced with the idea of such a sporting spectral, and  brought the idea back home with them to Mount Olympus in Greece. With this in mind it is only right and fitting that the Olympic Torch completes a full circle and returns to where it all began many a year ago.

Navan Shamrock Festival are pleased to announce that a flame, similar to the flame of long ago, will be brought from the hallowed grounds at Teltown Earthworks to Navan Town on St Patrick’s Day; when a young athlete will lead the Tailteann /Olympiad Red Cross Fun Run to commemorate the famous games of yore.