Ireland’s oldest man to lead Clara’s Patrick’s Day parade

Communities across Ireland are preparing for St. Patrick’s Day parades, with the annual celebration in Clara, Co. Offaly, set to be led by 104-year-old Paddy Claffey, Ireland’s oldest man.

Clara’s Grand Marshal

Paddy Claffey, a native of Ferbane, will serve as the Grand Marshal for the 2026 Clara parade. “It’s an honour, a great honour, I was surprised I was asked, I couldn’t get over it,” Claffey said.

Claffey, who will turn 105 next month, fondly remembers celebrating St. Patrick’s Day as a child, collecting shamrock from fields. He also recalled participating in parades in Athlone, step dancing on a lorry. “I was well able to dance and when I’d hear a piece of music, I’d tear it out of it,” he laughed.

He married Margaret in October 1953, praising her cooking skills, particularly her brown bread and apple tarts. Margaret passed away in 2004, and Claffey credits his longevity to “good food, a good family and hard work.” He quit smoking at age 45 and maintains a daily prayer routine.

Relatives from Wexford, Cork, and Galway will travel to Clara to watch him lead the parade. “It’s a great honour, a great honour, there will be an awful crowd there I suppose,” he said, adding, “I hope I’m able for it all, only for my knees and my hips, I could be dancing now.”

50 Years of Parades in Clara

This year also marks the 50th anniversary of Bertie McMahon’s involvement in organizing parades in Clara, beginning with the town’s Christmas parade in 1976. “I completely fell in love with parades,” he said.

McMahon has worked to bring bands from across Ireland to perform in the St. Patrick’s Day parade over the years, recalling the Lambert Puppet Theatre as a particularly memorable act. He also expressed joy when the town’s parade was featured on RTÉ News.

McMahon acknowledged the crucial support of local businesses, stating, “Each and everyone of them have given so much to this parade.” He emphasized the strong community spirit in Clara, noting its generosity in sponsoring the event. “People are really behind this and they want to be together on St Patrick’s Day.”

McMahon expressed his dedication to continuing the tradition. “Fifty years organising them and I enjoyed every minute of it,” he said. “I’m proud of this town, I love this town and it’s important to the Clara people that we keep the tradition going. It’s my hope that I’ll be here to organise it for a while longer, it will break my heart when I have to retire.”