Paddy Drac is back in the Dublin St Patrick’s Day Parade

Tallaght’s Paddy Finlay (AKA Paddy Drac) will march in this year’s St Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin after a decision not to allow him take part was overturned by organisers of the event yesterday.

Paddy, who picked up a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Tallaght Person of the Year Awards in December, has been marching in the parade for 48 years.

However, yesterday morning he received a letter to say, due to security reasons, he would not be issued with a wristaband to access the parade.

Speaking on RTE Radio One’s Liveline yesterday afternoon Paddy said: “I don’t interfere with the floats, I have never had any trouble, I have taken photos with gardai and Mary McAlese brought me up onto the stand.

“I love it, it’s been part of my life for the past 48 years. Last year when I was doing it I wasn’t well and my son rang me and said ‘Paddy don’t do it this year’ and I said ‘Graham if I die at the parade I’ll be happy’.”

He continued: “It was like a stake through the heart this morning when I got this (letter).

“I was always in the parade when I was a child. What threat would I be to anybody? I’m afraid of my own shadow.

“It’s part of my life, I don’t ask for any fees.”

After Paddy took to the radio there was a massive public outcry to have him included in the parade, with an immediate campaign set up online to have him reinstated.

And so yesterday evening, Paddy took to his Facebook page to deliver the news everyone had hoped for.

He said: “The St Patrick’s office was on to me to say that everything was resolved and I am in the St Patrick’s Day parade and they were sorry about the letter.

“I would like to thank Joe Duffy and all my friends who supported me, I know I would not be in the parade without your help and kind words, thanks again from your grave admirer Paddy Drac –  Ireland’s longest living vampire xxx”

If you’re heading to the parade this year make sure you keep an eye for Paddy who will be marching the streets of Dublin for the 49^th time.