John is a fluent Irish speaker and his love of Irish traditional music led him to form The Thomas Kent Pipe band with a group of his dearest friends in 1959.

The band is still going strong to this day and is an integral part of The Fermoy St. Patrick’s Day Parade every year.

Fermoy and the surrounding communities owe John and The Thomas Pipe Band a huge Thank You for all you have given us over the past 66 years.

The parade committee is delighted that John Fant agreed to be the Grand Marshal for Fermoy’s 40th parade this year.

John will be the 33 rd Fermoy Grand Marshal.