BREAKING: Kilkenny's Grand Marshal for St Patrick's Day parade revealed

St Patrick's Festival Kilkenny has announced this year's Grand Marshal for the St Patrick's Day parade.

Rás na mBan winner and Kilkenny Olympian Mia Griffin has been given the honour. She will lead the parade on its new route on March 17, St Patrick's Day 2025.

Mia Griffin is an Irish road and track cyclist with the Irish national team, and was part of the Irish cycling team at the Paris Olympics in 2024. The Glenmore-born local hero is the first Irish winner of Rás na mBan in over a decade.

For the first time, St Patrick's Festival Kilkenny has also announced a Junior Grand Marshal for the cultural celebration.

Enya Cox Dempsey, hailing from Castlecomer, has already won the Junior Eurovision Éire 2024, aired on TG4 in 2024, at just 14 years of age, and represented her country at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Madrid with her Irish-language song Le Chéile.

"It is a great honour to be Grand Marshal in my home county, and it comes with great pride. I am looking forward to being in Kilkenny at the Parade and will enjoy every minute of the experience," said Mia.

Enya also shared her thoughts on being named the first Junior Grand Marshal in Kilkenny: "It's truly an honour and a privilege to be the Junior Marshal of the St Patrick's Day Parade for the first time this year. It's so lovely to be doing something locally in my home County. I wish you all a very happy St Patrick's Day, and I hope to see you there!"

Kilkenny County Council, with support from Fáilte Ireland, will launch St Patrick's Festival Kilkenny 2025 this evening. The four-day spectacular will see 120 events throughout the city from March 14 to March 17. Festival organisers expect 100,000 people to attend the events in Kilkenny. The full line-up is now available on www.stpatricksfestivalkilkenny.com.  

Fáilte Ireland has identified six locations outside the Capital as part of an initiative to position Ireland as the only place for overseas tourists to celebrate St Patrick's Day. Kilkenny, along with Cork, Killarney, Waterford, Sligo, and Limerick have been selected, all uniquely showcasing Irish culture through their individual St Patrick's Day celebrations.

St Patrick's Festival Kilkenny 2025 will see the return of festival favourites: the market, street theatre and fireworks, and exciting new offerings. The weekend culminates in the big spectacle, the St Patrick's Day Parade on March 17, and two days of free live music and performances on the festival stage.

For the full line-up and more information, visit St Patrick's Festival Kilkenny.