Young Lorcan delighted to be included in City parade
By Maurice Garvey
A young cancer survivor from Ballyfermot was a guest on the Lord Mayor of Dublin’s carriage during the St Patrick’s Day parade in the city centre.
Lorcan Murray (9), was diagnosed with Wilms tumor stage 4 when he was just five-years-old – a rare form of cancer in the kidneys that usually occurs in children.
Lorcan Murray (in front with bag) with Lord Mayor Michael MacDonncha, Sam Maguire and friends at the St Patrick's Day parade
The Croftwood Park resident, who is one of 11 siblings, faced 26 months of chemotherapy and treatment, including surgery to remove a kidney.
His father Richard Murray, says Lorcan was “over the moon” to be included in the main Dublin parade.
Partial remission
Richard said: “He is in partial remission, and still needs checkups every three months, blood tests, scans. Aoibheann’s Pink Tie sorted it out for a few kids, and Lorcan’s name was one of those picked. He was brought back afterwards to the Gresham Hotel for lunch with the mayor, and RTE mentioned his name a couple of times before the parade started.”
Lorcan, a St Gabriel’s student, has medically induced asthma and due to his surgery, he can only engage in limited physical activity.
One big plus for the youngster, is that he has 10 siblings for support.
“Having his brothers and sisters offered a different perspective during his treatment,” said Richard.
“They rallied around him.”
