Now in our 9th year of the St Patrick’s Day Parade we the Committee regret the loss and pay tribute and gratitude to two of our founding members.

Ronan Dirrane

Ronan Dirrane, well known in the construction industry, Gaelic Sports and Comhaltas, who as the chair of the Nottingham Irish Centre and first parade Chairman spearheaded this Irish annual cultural celebration. In our first year Ronan even, personally ensured that the balloons were well inflated to decorate the stage. His leadership set the foundations of what the parade is today. Ronan died last summer and we offer sympathy to his family who continue Ronan’s love of his native Ireland’s music and Gaelic Games.

Michael Hannon

Michael Hannon died just before Christmas 2007 and was well known throughout the Irish Community in Britain both as a poet and a prose writer. His writings were a voice for the generation of Irish people, who came to Nottingham in the 1950’s. We will miss his singing and his rendition of ‘ The Little Box of Shamrock’, but Michael will live on in our memories and in his writings.