Letterkenny Chamber are delighted to launch the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade Letterkenny’s St.Patrick’s day parade is one of the biggest in the County and this year it is getting entries already from a wide range of businesses, community organisations and bands. Letterkenny Chamber President and council members were joined at Market square by The Town Mayor, Gerry McMonagle and two leprechauns who found themselves in Letterkenny a month early to celebrate all things Irish. Speaking at the launch Chamber President John Watson said “Letterkenny St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a great family event in Letterkenny and it grows year on year. This year the parade falls on a Saturday and we can guarantee large crowds lining the streets. Over the years the floats are getting bigger, better and even more inventive. It’s always a colourful parade and provides great family fun. The Chamber being the sole organiser of the Parade raises money through contributions from large and small businesses as well as bag packing and a bucket collection on the day. It is a real voluntary effort by members of the Chamber and we are proud to play our part in this important day.” The Parade, that starts at 3pm on Saturday 17th March, will include the usual mix of dancers, horses, cars, music and colour and will be is preceded by entertainment on the viewing platform at Market Square. On the day the independent judges view the parade with various categories in mind including community, sports, youth, band and dance. Each category winner receives a plaque and the overall winning entry receives the Danny Doherty Perpetual Plaque plus a cheque for €500. The parade starts at 3pm making its way from Pearse Road via Port Road, through Main Street past the viewing platform at Market Square to finish in Old Town. All types of businesses and groups can enter the parade although participants must hold their own public liability and/or employers liability insurance. To enter a float or for more information contact Letterkenny Chamber on 074 9124866 or email anne@letterkennychamber.com.

A new website has just been launched to highlight the different types of finance available to SMEs – www.smallbusinessfinance.ie. The website was jointly produced by Chambers Ireland and the Irish Banking Federation. The website is a one stop shop for information regarding access to finance. The website has information doe Start Up Businesses, Existing businesses and those seeking growth. It also links to support services and has useful tools to download including a business plan outline. It is hoped that this website will facilitate information awareness, promote knowledge and confidence in users and lead in turn to the creation of opportunities and jobs.