Every year, the people of Ireland look forward to the annual St Patrick’s Day Festival – in particular the announcement of the Guest of Honour.
Well, hold on to your hats and grab your cowboy boots as Dallas star Patrick Duffy, who played Bobby Ewing in the US soap, will celebrate his birthday this year as the guest of honour at the St Patrick’s Day Parade.
Fittingly, Patrick was born on March 17th, 1949 and has maintained a deep pride in his Irish heritage all his life.
As with many Irish families at the time, Patrick’s grandfather emigrated from Ireland to America in the 1920s, while just last summer, the soap star visited our lovely Emerald Isle with his partner Linda Purl, to trace his own Irish roots in Kilmovee, Co. Mayo.
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Speaking of his role as International Guest of Honour, Patrick said: “Nothing gives me more pride than being asked to be guest of honour at this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin.”
“I can feel my grandfather’s joy in my returning to his homeland to represent the Duffy’s and express our gratitude for all this great country has given us. I feel like I am returning home and want to meet my extended family,” he continued.
Richard Tierney, CEO at St. Patrick’s Festival also couldn’t be happier to announce the news saying: “We are so delighted to welcome Patrick Duffy to Ireland and to our national St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
“Patrick is a bona fide legend of the screen and holds a special place in the hearts of so many Irish households, so it’s a real pleasure to be able to bring him centre stage for the Festival and the Parade.”
Patrick will appear in the national St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin on March 17th, while the festival itself is set to run from March 16th to 19th.
The Parade will kick off at 12 midday and run from Parnell Square to Cuffe St/Kevin St junction, for approximately two hours.
And with over 4,000 participants and an expected 500,000 people lining the streets, this year’s parade is promised to be the biggest yet!
As always, it will be broadcast on RTÉ One and can be watched across the world on the RTÉ Player for those who can’t be in attendance.