Rathdrum St Patrick’s Day Parade to be led by record-breaking ‘Row Hard or Go Home’ crew

The five man crew of the Brugha - Tom Nolan, Derek McMullen, Shane Culleton and brothers Gearóid and Diarmuid Ó Briain – who set a new World Record for an Atlantic crossing by rowing boat have been bestowed with the honour of Grand Marshalls for this year’s St Patrick’s Day Parade in Rathdrum.

The five rowers epic 3,000 mile journey saw them shave a full two days off the previous record for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic by a team of five rowers, which was set during the same trans-Atlantic Talisker Challenge race in 2020.

They also raised €51,000 for three charities - Rathdrum Cancer Council, the RNLI and Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice.

Rathdrum has been hosting a St Patrick’s Day parade for the past 30 years, with Covid interrupting proceedings in 2020 and 2021.

The parade starts at noon from Avon Motors and will make its way down MainStreet, with the main reviewing stand located in Market Square.

Jimmy O’Shaughnessy, the Chair of the St Patrick’s Day Parade, a position he has held since the very first parade, said: “We are delighted the parade is going ahead again this year. It attracts lots of people from Rathdrum, but also a lot of visitors from far and wide. I would urge all schools, clubs and organisations to get involved in making this year’s parade another success.”

One of the Brugha crew, Tom Nolan, has already been given a hero’s welcome, with a party on his return to Crossbridge, which was held in the local community centre and saw Tom answering questions put to him from MC Nicky Murphy and from the crowd.