Dr Tom Cavanagh to marshall the Fermoy Patrick’s Day parade
WITH ST Patrick’s Day just a matter of weeks away the organising committee for the Fermoy parade has been busy behind the scenes organising this year’s colourful pageant.
Now in its 35th consecutive year, the Fermoy St Patrick’s Day parade will once again be an opportunity for the local community to come together in celebration of Irish culture. It also offers many local community and voluntary bodies an opportunity to join in the celebrations by participating in the parade, which last year saw more than 1,700 people from more than 50 different groups participate.
Launching the event this week the committee announced that the Grand Marshall for the 2018 parade will be popular local businessman and philanthropist Dr Tom Cavanagh.
Speaking at the launch organising committee secretary Donal O’Lochlainn said they were delighted that Dr Cavanagh had finally agreed to take up the Grand Marshall role.
“We have asked Tom Cavanagh to take up the role in the past but he is essentially a very shy person who does not seek to be in the limelight so had declined the offer. In fact, when he agreed to be the Grand Marshall this year he quipped that we must have caught him in a weak moment,” he said.
Mr O’Lochlainn said he believed Tom Cavanagh would be popular choice as Grand Marshall, given the amount of his time and the financial assistance he has given to Fermoy and the surrounding area over many years.
“He is a true Fermoy man who has always had the interests of the town and its hinterland at heart, something he has shown on numerous occasions by helping so many worthy projects over the years through his philanthropy,” he said.
“It is fitting that a man who has shown such generosity to the local community should be the figurehead of a parade that highlights the dedication of so many local groups and their members who give their time and efforts so freely on behalf of the local community. In addition, it offers the people of the greater Fermoy area the chance to say thank you to Tom Cavanagh for all that he has done on their behalf over the years,” he added.