It’s that time of year again, the days are getting longer, and we are marching towards St. Patrick’s Day; a celebration of all the best parts of our culture and our community here in Kilkenny City.
With preparations in full swing for our festival and Parade, just one question remains –
Who will lead this year’s parade? And so, without further ado, the St. Patrick’s Festival Team would like to announce that the Grand Marshall for this year’s Parade is…. Richie Power!
Carrickshock and Kilkenny hurling legend and one of the County’s best loved sons, Richie Power is a modern hurling icon with almost unparalleled success at both club and county level. His achievements include 8 All-Ireland Senior Medals, 2 All-Stars, 9 Leinster Titles, an All-Ireland intermediate club medal with his beloved Carrickshock, 2 Railway Cups and 2 All-Ireland Minor Medals. The list goes on.
Described by his teammate Jackie Tyrell as “A Genius”, Power was the most feared centre-forward in the country for well over a decade, terrorising his opponents and thrilling the Kilkenny faithful with his fearless style of hurling. A persistent knee injury forced him into early retirement in 2018, but it’s fair to say he left nothing out there on the pitch. Richie has now moved on to the world of coaching, having led his own club and recently being announced as the manager of Wexford Hurling Club T Shelmaliers.
In recent times, Richie has made headlines with his celebrated memoir- “Power, a Family Memoir’, co-authored with journalist Dermot Keyes, which was launched in front of a huge attendance in Langton House Hotel in November. The story of the successes of his Dad, Richie Snr., and his brothers Jamie and John, is a searing insight into the highs and lows of his sporting and personal life. It outlines his and his family’s struggles and mutual support with his gambling addiction and this story was also at the heart of a wonderful edition of ‘Laochra Gael’, the flagship sports programme on TG4.
One reviewer said, ‘Their story is truly inspirational on every level, and deals with triumph and the more difficult times in life’.
Announcing the selection of Richie for the role, Mayor of Kilkenny Municipal District and Chairperson of Kilkenny’s St Patrick’s Festival Committee, Cllr. Joe Malone said “Richie is the perfect man to lead this year’s parade, not only as a fearless leader on the pitch, but off the pitch too. As someone who has spoken so honestly and publicly about his own personal demons, his confrontation of them and his victory over them, Richie Power is the kind of role model we all need today.”
Director of Services, Kilkenny County Council, Tim Butler said “The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the centre piece to our festival and will take place on Lá le Pádraig, March 17th at 1.30pm when Richie Power will lead over a thousand parade participants, visiting Mayors and Dignitaries through the City. We are honoured that he has accepted this role and his selection is very much in keeping with the overall theme for this year’s Parade “Kilkenny Cats: Tales and Legends”.
With history and stories from witches and cats to Tudors and castles and present-day legends in sports stars, musicians, artists, and community leaders. Kilkenny has it all and communities are encouraged to come out and join in this year’s parade.”
