Olympian and world medalist Gráinne Walsh to be Grand Marshal at Tullamore parade
Paris 2024 Olympian and World Bronze Medalist Gráinne Walsh will be Grand Marshal for this year's St. Patrick's Day Parade in Tullamore.
"We are honoured to have Gráinne Walsh, a proud Tullamore, Offaly and Irish world class athlete, as the Grand Marshal of the 2026 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Tullamore.
"We are all so proud of her magnificent achievements at National and International level and she is a great role model for our youth. Gráinne has overcome adversity in her determination to compete at the very top of world boxing having missed out on three years of competition due to a serious thumb injury which required four operations. That determination to fight back and represent Offaly and Ireland at the 2024 Paris Olympics and later the World Championships is the stuff of legends," states Sean O'Brien, Secretary/PRO of the Tullamore Parade.
Gráinne started boxing at 16 years old having already played soccer with Shamrock Rovers; representing Ireland at U17 level. She was a World and European boxing quarter finalist in 2016 and a Bronze Medalist at the 2019 European games before her thumb injury derailed her Tokyo Olympic dream.
Through hard work and determination Gráinne made her way back into the Irish Boxing team and achieved her lifelong ambition when she represented Offaly and Ireland at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Last September she recorded another career highlight when she secured a World Bronze Medal by defeating the Paris Olympic Silver Medalist, China's Yang Liu, on a 3-2 split decision after an epic quarter final contest.
The Tullamore Parade will be held on Tuesday, March 17, starting at 11.30am sharp from the Car Park of the Bridge Centre. Official letters of invitation have been sent to all organisations and the committee is asking all to start making their preparations. The theme this year is "Beannachtai La Fheile Phadraig" meaning the blessings of the feast of St. Patrick on all. Every group and tradition is very welcome to enter the Parade.
Parade contacts are Frankie O'Reilly 087 2287550; Sean O'Brien 086 3892854; Martin O'Connor 083 1017012; Johnny O'Connor 087 2602487