Paralympians, Ellen Keane and Mary Fitzgerald have recently been announced as the grand marshals for the 2022 St. Patrick’s Day parades in Dublin and Kilkenny. Paralympic champion, Ellen Keane will lead the parade through Dublin city on Thursday, March 17, the Clontarf native will be joined by fellow Dubliner and Olympic boxing champion, Kellie Harrington.
The St. Patrick’s Day festival organisers said: “They represent all who wear their Irishness with pride, uplifting our people, connecting us as a nation.”
“Ellen and Kellie reflect more than sporting achievement, they represent all our people whose talent and commitment to excellence brings pride to Ireland – sportspeople, artists, makers, creators, thinkers, dreamers, innovators, entrepreneurs and many more, from all realms of life.
In Kilkenny, Paralympian and European bronze medallist, Mary Fitzgerald was named as the grand marshal for the 2022 St. Patrick’s Day parade. The Callan native will lead the parade through the streets of Kilkenny City on Thursday 17 March from 1.30pm.
Speaking on being named as grand marshal for the Kilkenny St. Patrick’s Day parade, Mary said: “It’s an honour to be asked to be Grand Marshall of this year’s Parade. I have had an exciting few years, but I’m already working towards the next Paralympics in Paris in 2024. It’s exciting to see women’s sport and indeed disability sport going from strength to strength in Ireland, from a participation-focused level all the way up to elite. Para Athletics has been a huge part of my life from a young age and it has given me so many opportunities”.
