Koroit Irish Festival names Marie Conheady ambassador

Marie Conheady will be given the honour of leading the festival's famous street procession on the Saturday of the event which kicks off on April 30.

Mrs Conheady has always been known for her great zest for life, but is more appreciative than ever to be planning the festival after the 88-year-old was diagnosed with breast cancer amid the coronavirus pandemic.

For a woman so close to her eight children, 19 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren family the pandemic brought an unwelcome extra layer.

"It was a killer when the family could only come in one at a time and for short times," she said.

"And we are very lucky they (our children) are all around here, and not far away, we can call on them anytime."

READ MORE:

Mrs Conheady said she was humbled by her chance to step into the spotlight as she was proud of her Koroit roots and Irish heritage.

"It's a great thing to be asked to be the ambassador, it's a great honor and I appreciate it very much," she said.

"We had been to Ireland and the people were lovely, they'd invite you out and you'd go to their place for tea and the television would be turned off and they'd come out with their Irish music. I'd love to go back to Ireland, I really would."

Tickets for the Koroit Irish Festival are now available via koroitirishfestival.com.au.

Tickets must be purchased before the event.

MORE READS:

Listen to the latest episode of our weekly podcast The Booletin and Beyond:

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.