Special quiet area in Dominic Street for children with special needs
By Andy Spearman
When she leads the St. Patrick’s Day parade through the streets of Drogheda on Thursday next, grand Marshall Isobel san Roma will be carrying both the Irish and Ukranian flags to mark the suffering and pain of children in the country she has visited so often in the course of her humanitarian work.
It will be a huge moment for Isobel as, not only has she been involved in organising the parade for 33 years, she has also worked tirelessly on behalf of the children of Ukraine who suffered so cruelly in the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986.
The children of Ukraine are suffering once again and, like everyone else, Isobel is sickened by the images on the TV news every night. It is more poignant for her however because she has visited many of the towns and villages which are currently being bombed out of existence on the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Even before this war I have thought about the children of Ukraine every day for many years” Isobel told Drogheda Life, adding that she was reduced to tears as she watched villages and towns that she has visited during her work with the Chernobyl Children’s Charity.
“It is heart-breaking to watch” she said. “We can only live in hope that this war will come to an end soon and we can get back to work helping the children.”
Another group of children being considered by the Drogheda Festivals Committee who are organising the Drogheda St. Patrick’s Day Parade are the children from the Abacas Special School in Congress Avenue and members of Autism Supports Louth Meath Youth Group.
To make things more inclusive for children and adults with special needs or sensory issues, part of the route through the town will cater for.
The bands and floats will be quieter to allow for a more relaxed experience for people with Autism and others who may find very loud noises overwhelming.
Whistles and other loud noises will not be part of the parade while passing this section which they are calling Sensory Street which will be at the bottom of the Abbey Shopping Centre and the Abbey Car Park at the bottom of Dominic Street. (marked in green on the map below).
It will be cordoned off and there will be volunteers there from Autism Support Louth&Meath to facilitate attendees.
“The best way to access this area is to park on the Mell/North side of town then walk by the Garda Station and Courthouse and then you will come in at the back of Sensory Street” advises Drogheda Festival’s PRO, Eoghan Darcy.
“This also means that if you need to leave quickly you can get back to your car without having to go through the town. There will also be space to move backwards away from the crowd if someone needs a quieter space for a while.
“There has long been a Wheelchair area at the main viewing stand on and it is hoped that this in addition to Sensory St will allow many more adults and children with sensory issues or special needs to enjoy the parade themselves and also their siblings and family members.”
