ENNIS GP and women’s health advocate Dr Máire Finn and uilleann piper Blackie O’Connell have been unveiled as the grand marshals for the 2025 St Patrick’s Day parade in Ennis.
Individuals, groups, clubs and societies from across the county have been invited by Clare County Council to show their pride under the banner ‘We Love Clare because..’.
Mayor of the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) said the theme of this year’s parade “will provide individuals, clubs and societies with an opportunity to stretch their imagination and expand their creativity while celebrating the Banner County on March 17th. I selected Dr Finn and Blackie O’Connell as grand marshals in recognition of their enormous contribution to the health, wellbeing and cultural development of County Clare and Ennis in particular”.
Dr Finn has worked as a GP in Ennis since 1998, residing in the town with her two daughters. She is especially passionate about female and children’s health issues. A regular voice on local and national media for many years, she provides education and information on many diverse topics as well as advocating for better health care for the people of the Mid West.
Blackie is an internationally renowned uilleann piper based in Ennis and has what he describes as an “infectious enthusiasm for all things Co Clare”. A stalwart of the music scene in Clare, Blackie is a musician, teacher and promoter. In his role as Chairperson of the Ennis Trad Festival, he has overseen an extremely successful period in the festival’s history and over the past ten years, has hosted the ‘Piping Heaven/Piping Hell’ in the county town.
Dr Finn and Mr O’Connell will lead off the Ennis parade from Áras Contae an Chláir at 11am. The parade will then proceed through the town via New Road, Newbridge Road, Club Bridge, Abbey Street carpark, Bank Place and Bindon Street. The St Patrick’s Day celebrations will begin in Ennis at 10.15am with pre-parade entertainment by the Shannon Gospel Choir on stage in Abbey Street carpark and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann providing entertainment on stage at Steele’s Terrace.
Clare FM’s Colum McGrath will return as MC for the parade.
The following roads will be closed for the duration of the parade, Steele’s Terrace/Newbridge Road from Kelly’s Corner roundabout to the Club Bridge, New Road from its junction with Tulla Road to Newbridge Road, Dr Daly Road from its junction with Lifford Road and New Road, College Road (local access only), Mill Road in an easterly direction from the Maid of Erin roundabout to its junction with Bindon Street, Harmony Row, Abbey Street, Francis Street from Francis Street car park to Abbey Street, Bank Place, Bindon Street, Old Friary Lane.
Diversions will be in place and pedestrian access will be available. The carpark at Áras Contae an Chláir is a drop-off for parade participants only. Additional parking will provided at the Courthouse until 14:30 and at Waterpark House in Drumbiggle until 18:00. Disabled parking will be at the Friar’s Walk car park and the Courthouse.
