2026 St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshals announced

February 2026

Greystones & District Announces St Patrick’s Day Parade 2026

Community to Celebrate Ireland From Shore to Sea - a Celebration by the Sea with Grand Marshals Grainne McLoughlin and Dermod Dwyer

Also in attendance – Yvonne O’Neill Head of Events GTT, Ian McDonald Chair Person Core Credit Union, Leas Cathaoirleach Greystones Municipal District Cllr Mark Barry, Chair of the Greystones & District parade organising committee Cllr Tom Fortune. Greystones and District will come alive this St Patrick’s Day, Tuesday 17 March 2026, as the much-loved community parade returns, embracing this year’s vibrant coastal theme, Ireland from Shore to Sea.

Drawing inspiration from the area’s rich maritime heritage, the parade invites participants to celebrate the sea and shoreline through the lens of Irish myth and folklore, from ancient legends and selkies to the story of St Patrick himself. Schools, sports clubs, community groups, local businesses, and residents of all ages are warmly encouraged to take part in this joyful celebration of culture, creativity, and community spirit.

Cllr Tom Fortune, Chair of the Greystones and District St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, said: “The St Patrick’s Day Parade is all about community spirit, colour and creativity. With this year’s coastal theme, we’re excited to see schools, clubs and local groups put their own imaginative stamp on the celebration.”

Grand Marshals Announced

The committee is proud to announce Grainne McLoughlin and Dermod Dwyer as Grand Marshals for the 2026 parade, recognising their exceptional and long-standing contributions to the Greystones community.

Grainne McLoughlin

A passionate community champion, Grainne has played a transformative role in Greystones since moving to the town in 1983. From her early work with the Civic Society through to her leadership of the Greystones Summer Festival, which she evolved into a nationally recognised Arts Festival, Grainne has consistently brought creativity and energy to local life. Elected to public office in 2004 and later to Wicklow County Council, she served two terms as Cathaoirleach of Greystones and founded Greystones 2020 in 2015, helping to shape the town’s Public Realm Plan and laying the groundwork for the highly successful Greystones Town Team. Her dedication to arts, culture and community development has earned numerous accolades, and she continues to work tirelessly toward a vibrant and sustainable future for Greystones and Kilcoole.

Dermod Dwyer

Dermod Dwyer is a distinguished Irish businessman and civic leader whose career has beendefined by a deep commitment to Irish tourism, job creation and community development. A tireless advocate for Wicklow, Dermod currently serves as Chairman of Powerscourt Estate and Gardens and is a strong supporter of the Friends of the Cliff Walk. Locally, Dermod played a pivotal role in supporting the formation of Greystones 2020 and later served as Founding Chairman of the Greystones Town Team, under whose leadership the town achieved global recognition, winning the LiveCom Gold Award for the World’s Most Liveable Community in 2021. Alongside his professional achievements, Dermod has made a significant philanthropic impact through The Caroline Foundation and continues to champion ambitious community development for Greystones.

Parade Details

The parade will commence at 11.00am sharp from the South Beach car park, travelling through the town and finishing at the Marina, a quiet zone in partnership with Greystones Autism Friendly Town will again be in place. Live entertainment will follow on Church Road after the parade.

Road Closures

There are road closures in place between from 10:30am to 1:00pm on the Mill Road and Church Road between the Mill Road roundabout to the junction with Victoria Road. The Victoria Road will be reduced to one land with a stop/go system in place between the junction with the Church Roach and Beach Road. The Municipal Park and Ride and South Beach carpark will be closed between 5am and 1pm on the 17 th of March.

Sponsors & Partners

The Greystones and District St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee extend our sincere thanks to Core Credit Union, our headline sponsor for 2026. Core Credit Union has come on board with real enthusiasm and a strong community focus. Built on values of connection and local support, Core is passionate about backing events like the Greystones & District St Patrick’s Day Parade that celebrate community spirit, culture and togetherness.

The committee also extends sincere thanks to our event partners: Greystones Municipal District, The Burnaby & Beach House, Schnittger Bourne Property Services, MeritContracting, Codling Wind Park, The Dogfather Mobile Dog Grooming, AIB, Wood Group Homes, BBA Architecture, The Hungry Monk, Brady’s Homecare, Glen Fuels, Phoenix Travel, Vick’s Cafe, Higcon Construction and Renewables Ireland, Mrs Robinson, Holohan’s SuperValu and Charlesland Retail Management for their valued support.

Get Involved

Groups and volunteers are invited to take part in this special coastal celebration, contact events@greystones.ie