“It was a lovely day in Lucan, the sun shone on the village, and we had a great parade with 38 groups marching in the parade” said Caroline Brady Parade organiser, “It takes a village to create such a great event, well done to everyone from the committee, to the all the groups, and all the people who came out to enjoy the day”. The parade comprised of approx 2,000 people marching. “There were huge crowds from the start of the parade at Tesco in Hillcrest, all the way along the route, and a great crowd in the village. The parade was bigger and more colourful than ever. Every club wore their colours, demonstrated their skills, and gave their clubs shouts all the way along the route.” Caroline said.
Caroline continued “The children particularly enjoyed the day, they danced, played cricket for us, showed us how to use a hurl, did some boxing sparing, really we saw everything that the clubs do in Lucan at the review stand and all along the route. A great turnout for Lucan. The children having a good time and enjoying themselves is the primary reason we organise the parade. It was hugely successful”.
For entertainment the Lucan Concert Band performed at the Spar in Dodsboro, the St. James Brass and Reed band performed at the AIB, in the parade performing were the Lucan Gospel Choir, the Lucan Dew Drop Band, Maharashtra Mandal Ireland, the Chinese community with the dragons, and the Finglas Marching and Concert Band. They were very pleased to introduce a perpetual award for best commercial entry in the parade as a tribute to honour the memory of the late Jim Toner, founder of Toner Transport.
Jim made an indelible mark on his community defined by his unwavering commitment and support of local groups and causes. Over 25 years ago when the Lucan parade started to grow the parade committee approached Jim and asked for his help to put in place a review stand for the parade. Jim generously provided a truck and driver, and every year since the Toner truck is an integral part of the parade and the community helping to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. It provides a focal point for children and community groups where they proudly perform or demonstrate their skill for leaders of their community at the review stand located in the centre of Lucan Village. The truck, transformed into a review stand, quite simply makes the children’s day, it’s the centre of their day on St. Patrick’s Day.
An excellent business man and leader, Jim’s life demonstrated the great things the committee can achieve in the community when they work together. His belief in uplifting his community resonates through the enduring legacy he established—a legacy carried forward by his family and his son Paul, who continue to make a substantial contribution to the Lucan parade and the broader community each year. The Jim Toner perpetual award is the group’s small token to recognise and remember the life of a great man. The first winner of the Jim Toner perpetual award is RTH Property Management or known over many years of entering the parade, Remi the Handyman.
Prizes were awarded as follows: Parade Marshall Award – Stagg Cycles and Lucan Cycle Club. Peter Brady perpetual cup for Best in Parade – Goldwing Owners Club. Paddy Kenny perpetual trophy for Best turned out group – Na Gaeil Óga CLG. Munitir na Tire prize – Serena Brady Academy of Dance. Circle K prize – AGP FC. Best Performance – Lucan Gospel Choir. Best Individual Entry – Andri Kryzhanivskyi. Most Energetic – Lucan United FC. Most Entertaining – Lucan Dew Drops. And Most Colourful – Lucan Chinese Community.
This year the committee were very pleased to welcome Dublin Senior and Lucan Sarsfield’s GAA goal keeper Abby Shiels as 2024 Parade Marshall. Abby is the winner of the 2023 ZuCar Golden Glove award. She is also the top goalie in the country having brought home to Lucan the All Star Award for her goalkeeper position in 2023 which is the highest standard in Ladies Senior Football. She is the first Lucan lady to bring this prestigious award home to Lucan. Abby’s accomplishments are an amazing achievement and an example for all young people in Lucan who aspire to participate in sport at a high standard. Abby arrived at the review stand in the vintage Barberstown Castle car.
This year they had a brilliant selection of drawings of St. Patrick from the primary schools and we are scanning these pictures and they will be available on the website shortly www.LucanStPatricksDay.com. They organised face painting and balloon workshops with St. Joseph’s College and the students really enjoyed helping out on the day and putting their new skills to work.
The parade is funded by South Dublin County Council and business people in and around Lucan with their financial support they are able to organise the parade every year since 1991. Thank you to Lucan An Garda Síochána. Thank you to Toner Transport for providing a truck which is transformed each year into a review stand. Thank you to Muintir na Tire for the use of the building during the day. Thank you the the Lucan Newsletter staff for always covering in the weekly newsletter. Thank you to Paul Butler from Society for Old Lucan for the photography. Thank you to the wonderful volunteers from the local community, from the South Dublin Volunteer Centre, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Ireland, Lucan Tidy Towns, Lucan Mens Shed, Lucan ICA, and Michelle Dunne the Transition Year Teacher and the TY students from St. Josephs College. Thank you to Lucan Red cross for providing first aid and ambulances for the day.
Finally thank you to the parade committee, all volunteers, Sanjeeb Barik P.C., Caroline Brady P.C., Peter Brady, Declan Brady, Joe Brady, Samantha Cummins, Denise Edwards, Amy Hughes (South Dublin County Council), Emma Kirwan, Aedan O’Duil, the Community Guards Lucan Station, Gerry Kenny (Treasurer), Lieghann Spollen, Ronan Smith (St. Patrick), Marcin Witowski Honorary Members: Barbara Cummins, Mary Meehan
Pictured: Lucan Parade Organisers Group Picture alongside Caroline Brady, Emer Higgins TD and Senator Emer Currie
