"Barney's up there and I kicked him," shouted the young lad gleefully as he ran down a lane-way off Galway's Eyre Square and, indeed, there was a sad-looking Barney, complete with limp, in Galway's festivities.
But if Barney was having a bad day, he looked like the only one who was. The sun shone and even the pom-pom girls looked happy and warm in weather which was most extraordinary for Galway in mid-March. For the thousands of locals and many foreigners congregated in Eyre Square, the sunshine made what was one of the city's best parades in recent years even more enjoyable.
Galway's parade, which this year had a new, longer route, was led by that most special of guests, the Sam Maguire cup, which travelled in style in a vintage car.
However, much to the disappointment of the crowd, none of the all-Ireland winning football team accompanied Sam. For them the celebrations are over and even St Patrick couldn't lure them away from next season's preparations.
One of the most warmly-received spectacles of this year's parade was a display by the First Battalion of the Defence Forces, based in the city's Renmore Barracks. In addition to several tanks, the battalion paraded the Sliabh na mBan, the armoured car used by Michael Collins in 1921, and the motorcycle used by Galway revolutionary Liam Mellows.
However, for the most part, the emphasis was on community and local participation and what the parade occasionally lacked in sophistication and slickness it more than compensated for in enthusiasm, colour and music.
Colourless commercial floats, a sad staple in Galway's past parades, were almost absent this year. Most floats and walking groups came from the city but there was some out-of-town participation, including a superb float from Athenry Show featuring a goat, sheep and a fine pig, a real Babe in the City. This float won best overall prize.
The Mayor of Galway, Cllr Angela Lupton, presided over the parade, while other politicians in town for the day included Minister of State Mr Noel Treacy, Mr Michael D. Higgins TD and Sen Fintan Coogan.
As the parade concluded, they and the crowd joined Galway singer Sean Keane for a powerful rendition of Galway Bay. Sentimental indeed but, said parade organiser Michael Diskin of Galway Corporation: "That's the sort of day it is."
As events wound down, families remained on in Eyre Square basking in the sunshine before drifting off to drown the shamrock.