Daffodil Day on March 22nd saw the village of Rush turn yellow when Rush Daff Committee and volunteers took to the streets to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society. For over 36 years this community voluntary group has worked for a common cause, heightened in most cases by their own experiences of cancer with family or friends. We are conscious that it is the supporters and not the organisers who really deserve the praise, the people of Rush are generous beyond belief. Their amazing hard work and the generosity of the community over the years means that over ONE MILLION EURO has been raised by the group to date. Rush Daff Day group started in 1988 with members of Rush Badminton club who held a raffle raising a sum of £189. In 1990 the group took to the streets, selling silks, pins and merchandise and this tradition together with the annual coffee morning has continued to date. In 1998 the Paddy Cole Dance Night was started to raise funds, and this became a huge success and ran for six years. In 1999 the Golf Classic started, bringing in large sums of money for the cause. The annual Christmas Swim which is now in its 15th year and the Ladies Lunch which started in 2006 are two more fundraising events. Tickets for the ladies’ lunch are usually the most sought-after item during the months of April/May, this event is hugely popular and raises not only awareness but much needed funds for the Irish Cancer Society. The Garden of Hope in Rush Library, Michelle’s Fun Run as well as our Dash and Splash event are some of the other events run over the weekend. Local schools support the fundraising event and St Joseph’s Secondary school transition year students support us year on year. We hope that this will encourage the younger members of our community to continue the fight against cancer and join the Daff Day Committee. We will continue to fundraise, and our moto is ‘we won’t give up til cancer does.’

Classic Rock, giant rabbits, pirates, mobile GAA pitches, glamourous make-overs and of course, Big Bird doing wheelies on the main street, this year’s Rush St. Patrick’s Day Parade had it all. Rush Community Council and community groups from across the town worked together to put on a packed weekend of events for all. Kicking off with the Music Jamboree at St Catherine’s School on the Friday afternoon, Saturday then saw a community clean up led by Rush Tidy Towns, followed by free self-defence lessons for courtesy of Rush Boxing Club and then Rush Community First Responders held a demonstration and information centre on CPR and life saving techniques at the Community Centre. Saturday was topped off with a Let’s Play Rush pop up event where kids and adults could engage in some free play, battle with giant Jenga’s or try their luck at the card table. St. Patrick’s Day started early with the Leprechaun Park Run event with congratulations to Bobby Sheridan who came in first. Then leaning into this year’s theme of Let’s Hear it for Rush local band The Upstrokes played some rock hits to entertain the crowds gathering for the parade. They were followed by the truly excellent Home Harmonies group from Rush Musical Society who played some choice tunes from their extensive repertoire. In a special treat, the two groups then came together to really blow people away, finishing their set with a fist pumping rendition of Rainbow’s ‘Since You’ve Been Gone’. As the parade participants were readying their drums, whistles and flags Rush Senior Citizens Group were hosting tea and sandwiches at the centre for all local seniors. The parade itself was a riot of colour and a symphony of raucous noise and fun. Top prizes in the annual parade competition went to St. Maur’s GAA who literally brought their best game with them … on the back of a flatbed truck. Following the parade I12 Nails treated all to a free St. Patrick’s Manicure and then the Rush Sensational Swimmers hosted a swim at the North Beach.