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Adare St Patricks Day 2022 Adare St Patricks Day 2022 - 99 year old Dolly O'Neill (in green) was the Grand Marshall for the first parade in 23 years. Picture: Dolf Patijn/ilovelimerick Adare St Patricks Day 2022 Adare St Patricks Day 2022 - 99 year old Dolly O'Neill (in green) was the Grand Marshall for the first parade in 23 years. Picture: Dolf Patijn/ilovelimerick

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WATCH Adare St Patricks Day makes a vibrant return after 23 years

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Adare St Patricks Day 2022 – Pictured above are Betty Hennessy, Dolly’s niece and full time carer, Tricia Derwin, Chairperson Adare St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Richard Lynch, I Love Limerick, Dolly O’Neill, Grand Marshall for the Parade and Michael Leonard, Dolly’s chauffeur for the Parade. Picture: Dolf Patijn/ilovelimerick

99-year-old Dolly O’Neill was the Grand Marshall for Adare’s St Patricks Day parade

Adare St Patricks Day 2022Frontline Stage School, Adare Men's Shed and Lumen Street Theatre were all prize winners on the day. Picture: Dolf Patijn/ilovelimerick
Frontline Stage School, Adare Men’s Shed and Lumen Street Theatre were all prize winners on the day. Picture: Dolf Patijn/ilovelimerick

The sun was shining in Adare for the village’s 2022 St Patrick’s Day Parade – the first in 23 long years. 

Locals young and old gathered in their thousands to witness the momentous occasion, and to see local community groups and organisations put on a show as they make their way up Main Street.


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The Adare St Patricks Day parade theme was ‘Reduce, Re-use and Recycle’, a fitting choice for a village that takes great pride in its hugely successful Tidy Towns committee. This theme was embedded in every element of the festivities. 

The event’s MC was I Love Limerick’s Richard Lynch, who began with a moment of silence for those lost during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The celebrations then got into full swing, with fabulous Adare lady Dolly O’Neill taking on the role of Grand Marshall. Dolly is a village treasure and is due to celebrate her 100th birthday this year.

“Dolly is Adare’s favourite person,” said Trish Derwin, Chairperson of the Adare St Patrick’s Day Parade. “She has dedicated her life to Adare and has voluntarily given so much to the community. She has been at the helm of many organisations including Adare Red Cross, Adare Irish Countrywomen’s Association, Adare Tidy Towns and Adare Sheltered Housing to name but a few.

“No words can describe the love and respect the people of Adare have for Dolly, and the many friendships she has made throughout her life.”

The people of the South-West Limerick village brought all their energy to the vibrant Adare St Patricks Day parade procession, battling it out in a friendly fashion for three top prizes.

The fabulous Frontline Stage School was awarded the Best Community Group Float award, sponsored by Adare Community Trust and presented by local lady Meriel Clarke.

The Best Overall Float accolade was presented by Reverend Elizebeth Beasly to Adare Men’s Shed. 

Finally, Lumen Street Theatre’s colourful offering was declared the Best Environmental Awareness Float, with the award presented by community member Liam O’Kelly.

A fourth prize was also awarded to the village’s Best Dressed Window, Vokes Hardware, chosen for ‘encapsulates the old and the new Ireland in very striking colour’.

Reflecting on time passed since Adare’s last St Patrick’s Day parade in 1999, MC Richard Lynch said, “The village has changed a lot since then, but one thing has remained the same – the community spirit that envelopes this community.” 

For more information on Adare, go HERE
For more Adare stories, go HERE

For more St Patrick’s Day stories, go HERE 

Pictures: Dolf Patijn/ilovelimerick

Pictures: Dolf Patijn/ilovelimerick

Pictures: Stanislaw Luszczki/ilovelimerick

Pictures: Richard Lynch/ilovelimerick

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.