Brian Cowen to be Grand Marshal for Tullamore St Patrick's Day parade

Former Taoiseach Brian Cowen will be the Grand Marshal of the 2024 Tullamore St Patrick's Day parade.

The Tullamore committee made the announcement on social media yesterday (Tuesday).

It said: “We are honoured to announce our Grand Marshal for Tullamore's St Patrick’s Day Parade 2024 Is our former Taoiseach and proud Offaly man - Brian Cowen.”

Cowen (64) was Taoiseach from 2008 to 2011. He served as a TD for Laois/Offaly from 1984 to 2011.

He was also at various times Minister for Finance, Health and Children, Labour , Transport, Energy and Communications and Foreign Affairs as well as Tanaiste.

In 2019, he suffered a stroke and brain haemorrhage and after which he spent a year in hospital.

In recent times, he has become more prominent publicly, appearing at events and speaking on special occasions.

This year's parade is being held on Sunday, March 17, beginning at 11.30am with the assembly point for all participants in the Bridge Centre car park.

The route is High St., Bridge St., Colmcille St., over the Kilbeggan Bridge and on to the Arden Road. The parade will finish at the GAA Centre.

The theme for this year is 'Éire, Cultur tri ceol, caint, craic agust síocháin are fud an domhain' which loosely translates to 'Ireland, Culture through music, chat, fun and peace throughout the world.'

The committee has asked that all participants do their utmost to reflect this theme in their entries.