Cillian Murphy (no, not that one) paraded through streets of Cork town

Cillian Murphy, 16, from Carrigtwohill, Cork, whose namesake won an Oscar last week, was paraded through the streets of Carrigtwohill for the village's St Patrick's Day parade.

The red carpet was rolled out for Cillian Murphy as he made a surprise appearance in Co Cork following last week’s Oscar glory.

There was a real taste of Tinseltown as Cillian was paraded through the streets of Carrigtwohill.

But while Corkonians may have to wait for an official civic reception for the Oppenheimer star, the people of Carrigtwohill cheered on their very own Cillian Murphy, 16, after he agreed to help the village mark his namesake’s Academy Award win.

Carrigtwohill’s Cillian, who lives in nearby Water Rock, was approached by organisers of Carrigtwohill's St Patrick’s Day parade who wanted to do something to mark the other Cillian’s Oscar success. And, game for a laugh, their Cillian agreed.

Cillian Murphy, 16, from Carrigtwohill, Cork, whose namesake won an Oscar earlier this month.

“I was a bit reluctant to do it when they asked but then my soccer coach who is part of the committee said 'look, we have the opportunity now to do it and wouldn’t it be funny', and then one of my GAA team-mates, whose mother is also on the committee, said I should do it, so I said why not — it would be a bit of craic,” Cillian said.

The Midleton CBS transition year student was suited and booted by ITSuitsCork, and wore a dashing gold-patterned dress-suit jacket, with a matching gold-coloured dickie bow, and impressive slip-on shoes with gold detailing around the laces.

Parade organisers created a stunning red-carpet scene on the back of a trailer, complete with crowd-control ropes, two life-size Oscar statues, and a mock-up Oppenheimer promotional poster featuring Cork’s landmark Shandon steeple, which was created by Cork artist Ian Armstrong last week. Their Cillian held a replica Oscar, and off he went on the float through the streets.

Their Cillian said: “The float was amazing, and I had loads of friends in the crowd, and people were screaming up at me.

“A woman came up to me afterward and said she had two little girls with her at the parade, and when I waved back at them, they were delighted, so I thought that was lovely.” 

'Such a lovely young man'

Mary O’Connor, a member of the parade’s organising committee, said they were delighted that their Cillian Murphy agreed to take part, and embraced the role so well.

“We’re all still celebrating Cillian Murphy’s Oscar win, and this was a big ask for our Cillian Murphy but he’s such a lovely young man, we were thrilled when he agreed to take part,” she said.

A touch of class: Cillian Murphy.

“He added that little bit extra to our parade. There is so much sad news around, it’s great to see a young lad like this embrace the fun of the parade.

“And everyone just loved him. He added a real touch of class to the parade.” 

Cillian’s mother, Deirdre, said he has been enjoying all the jokes and texts in the wake of his namesake’s Oscar success last week.

“People were even saying to us they were amazed we managed to get back from LA so quickly — it's been great fun really,” she said.

Ms O’Connor also extended an open invitation to the other Cillian Murphy to visit Carrigtwohill with his Oscar.

“We’ll roll out the red carpet for him too,” she quipped.