Mia Griffin may be a busy woman, mixing her road career with Roland World Tour team and her national track team schedule, but she'll pause on St Patrick's Day to lead the celebrations in her native Kilkenny.
While she previously played for the county's camogie team, her sporting career has moved up several notches since then, competing in the Olympic Games and regularly representing Ireland on road and track, including medaling at the U23 Europeans.
Last September she took her talents home to win two stages and the overall at Rás na mBan, becoming the first Irish winner of the race since Olivia Dillon claimed the title a decade earlier.
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And now Kilkenny City has bestowed on her the honour of Grand Marshal at the upcoming St Patrick's Day Parade. It's an unusual honour for a cyclist and one that says Griffin has become a local hero.
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The St Patrick's Festival Kilkenny has confirmed Griffin has been selected for the role, urging people to come out and "join us in celebrating this incredible local hero as she leads Kilkenny’s biggest day of the year".
Griffin, who has just completed the European Track Championships in Belgium, and two weeks ago took 4th on a stage at the UAE Tour, said she was delighted to accept Kilkenny's offer.
“It is a great honour to be Grand Marshal in my home county, and it comes with great pride,” Griffin said. “I am really looking forward to being back home in Kilkenny to lead the parade and will enjoy every minute of the experience.”
