There were St Patricks day parades held all over the country today but one parade in particular was more special than most as a little boy who is currently fighting cancer got to join the Gardaí and march in the St Patrick’s Day parade in Drogheda this afternoon.
The brave little boy named Ceejay McArdle aged 3, from Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, is an avid lover of the Gardaí and wants to join the force when he grows up, got to be an honorary member of Drogheda Gardaí today as members took part in the towns parade. Little Ceejay who is currently receiving chemotherapy for leukaemia at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, was also kitted out in a special Garda uniform complete with whistle and torch.
The brave little boy got to fulfill another wish after the town council arranged for him to take part in the parade. His mum Susan who was deeply touched by the gesture said her little boy was excited about taking part, she told reporters: “He has told the nurses and staff of the paediatric unit in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital that he will be directing the traffic at the parade, and told his oncology team to keep an eye out for him as he wants to wave from the Garda Jeep.”
The grateful mum also revealed that Ceejay has also been getting messages of support as well as photographs and videos from police across the world. Susan also said that his love of the gardaí had helped him cope through this difficult time. “The messages and support from the gardaí and police officers from around the world are really helping Ceejay escape from the harsh realities of childhood cancer,” she added.