Irish history to go! Buy now at $39.99.

WGT's Volunteer Correspondents for This Year's Parades Roundup

'Wherever Green Is Worn'

From Atlanta to Achill Island, London to Limerick, the sons and daughter of Erin turned out in force.

CANADA

Photo by John Mulholland Is this a greyhound in Irish wolfhound's clothing, seen here in Montreal's parade? (Click on the image for a larger view.)

MONTREAL – On Sunday, March 13th, more than 300,000 turned out to enjoy Montreal's 181st St. Patrick's Day Parade. (It is the longest-running, uninterrupted, St. Patrick's Day Parade in North America.) For the first time in its distinguished history, the parade was led by a woman grand marshal, Margaret Healy, past president of the city's United Irish Societies, which organizes the annual parade. The weather was not promising in the morning, but by noon the sun was shining brightly on Montreal's Irish and their friends. A good time was had by all. — John Mulholland

IRELAND

ACHILL ISLAND, COUNTY MAYO – The pound of the big bass drum enters my consciousness. Am I dreaming? An ass brays. A cock crows. I look at the clock. It is 6.30. Dawn has not yet broken. I am on Achill Island. The beat is that of the big drum of the Dooagh Pipe Band. It is the 17th March, and I am nudged awake by this ghostly sentinel calling the pipes and drums of the island to a day of celebration.

Photo by Joe McGowan The banner reads "Dooagh Pipe Band Welcome You Home." The event drew more than 1,000 onlookers, a good portion of the island's 5,000 residents, many emigrants, plus a few dozen visitors. (Click on the image for a larger view.)

This is the real Ireland. Unchanged for generations here is an Ireland hidden except to the adventurer, or those lucky enough to stumble upon it.

No pom-poms here. No floats, no insipid imitation of foreign parades, no line dancers, no commercialism. I join a stream of island residents and a few visitors making their way on quiet roads to the sound of the band. Dawn breaks to the skirl of the pipes and the beat of the drums in an open field.

Moving out, they march past knots of bystanders tumbled from their beds. They have come to view this ancient early morning tradition unique to this picturesque island. Emigrants return here from all over the world for this special day, dramatically, albeit temporarily, boosting the island's normal population of 2,700.

Photo by Joe McGowan Achill Island's four pipe bands prove again to be a big draw for the remote island's youngsters. (Click on the image for a larger view.)

Dooagh Pipe band is joined by the island's three other pipe bands as they parade to Mass celebrated 'as Gaeilge' (in Irish) in the nearby church.

Outside the chapel, in turn, they play a selection of tunes before Mass. Afterward, the bands march to Dookinella, a village at the other end of the island. Mass is celebrated here again, after which junior bands join the senior ensembles in a massed-bands spectacle. Small boys look on, tap on drums bigger than themselves and gaze admiringly at the color, pageantry, and swagger of the senior pipes and drums. After the massed musical extravaganza, the bands move down the road to march from village to village all day long.

The future of this unique celebration of St. Patrick's Day is assured by the look in the eyes of the children as they wait impatiently for the day when they too can take their place among the massed saffron and green, the pomp and swagger, the wild call of the pipes. — Joe McGowan

DUBLIN – In Ireland's capital city, the weather was sunny, an aberration, according to most Dubliners. That brought out a large, enthusiastic crowd. As always, the crowd hailed from all corners of the globe. — News Reports

LIMERICK – In Limerick, residents of "The Treaty City" representing numerous nationalities were invited to march in the city's "One City, A World of People" parade. The final pair up the route at parade's end were definitely nonnatives. Africa or perhaps India would have been a reasonable guess for the birthplace of the two elephants that brought up the rear. The two were part of an American circus and proved to be the hit of the parade with the appreciative crowd. — News Reports

UNITED KINGDOM

LONDON – After a spat of wintry weather, the sun emerged for the St. Patrick's Day Parade & Festival, which has become one of the largest celebrations of the year in the capital city. London's large Irish community turned out in force to watch the parade and participate in the Festival in Trafalgar Square. For the first time, the famous fountains in the square were dyed green. Thousands crowded the square to sample Irish food being sold in booths and to listen to a musical lineup headed by the Saw Doctors. — News Reports

UNITED STATES

CALIFORNIA

Photo by George Trainor Pipers helped welcome visitors to Calaveras County's Celtic Faire. (Click on the image for a larger view.)

CALAVERAS COUNTY – California's longest-running "faire" opened the weekend of March 12-13, putting a sharp focus on Celtic music and fun. The 19th annual Calaveras Celtic Faire, in Angels Camp, is simply the best St. Patrick's Day party on the West Coast. The Celtic Marketplace offers everything from Celtic era swords to Celtic jewelry, and the usual delicious Bangers, Haggis and other ethnic foods were also available for the hungry.

Entertainment included Dervish, Teada, Tempest, Molly's Revenge, Golden Bough, Black Irish Band, Michael Lucey Irish Band, and Anne Lister.

Plans are already underway for the Twentieth Anniversary of the Calaveras Celtic Faire. Festivals come and go, but the Calaveras Celtic Faire remains one of the largest Celtic festivals in the western United States. — George Trainor

Photo by Lisa Watson Students at The Whelan Academy of Irish Dance demonstrate traditional dancing to parade watchers. (Click on the image for a larger view.)

SAN FRANCISCO – Sunday, March 13, parade day, was a beautiful day in the city. The sun was out, and so was the green! Organizers estimated there were more than 150,000 participants in the parade, the 153rd annual, spearheaded by United Irish Societies of San Francisco. Among those in the parade were The Rose of Tralee, San Francisco Fire Fighter Bagpipe Band, and Mayor Gavin Newsom. Of course, my favorite entrant was The Traditional Irish Pipe Band, which includes Christopher Long, my son.

The pipe major is Bill Driscoll of Concord, Calif., who also founded the band. He has taught the bagpipes for many years. He also founded the Irish Heritage Pipe Band. A late lunch at O'Reilly's Pub was the perfect end to the day. Located at 622 Green Street, it has wonderful Irish food and, of course, a great pint! (Read more about the parade at SFGate.com.) — Lisa Watson

COLORADO

Courtesy of Co. D, 1st Colo Infantry DENVER – The "mile-high" city's 43rd annual St. Patrick's Day Parade featured a crisp portrayal of an honor company from the Civil War-era Irish Brigade's famed 69th New York Infantry. (Click on the image for the full-sized image.)

DENVER – The "Queen City of the Plains" held its 43rd annual parade Saturday, March 12, allowing its citizens two weekends to toast (and, in some instances, to get toasted). The New York 69th Infantry "1st Regiment Irish Brigade" made its 25th annual appearance, commanded by Captain E. Hockman with 1st Sergeant Rolan and Sergeant Joel Kelly. The contingent comprised 60 members from five Colorado Civil War units, including the 1st Texas, the 1st Colorado, the 4th U.S. Artillery, the 5th U.S. Infantry (from Golden), Professor Kurt Knierim and his squad of students (from Fort Collins), and our fair women’s auxiliary in front carrying a felt banner for the New York 69th. The three fifers and two drummers, led by Principal Musician Sergent Bob Philips, helped keep us in step.

It was a fine, sun-lit spring day, with wind gusts over 50 miles per hour. The Grand National was unfurled and made about 100 yards before a zephyr snapped the gallant staff at the first brass-extension. 1st Sergeant Rolan saved the day by producing spare colors and staff from his wagon. The parade rout overflowed with a teeming crowd, about four to seven deep. Festivities continued at the Hockman homestead with a corn beef & cabbage dinner. — Color Sergeant G.K. Elliott

FLORIDA

WINTER PARK – On a picture-perfect day reminiscent of the blue sky and green landscape of Ireland itself, Winter Park, Florida, celebrated St. Patrick's Day with a grand parade.

The flowers in the park were complimented by an undulating sea of green shirts, hats and beads as the marchers proclaimed pride in their heritage. Inspired by the scene, children danced an Irish jig while misty-eyed seniors were lost in thoughts of days long ago.

Since everyone is Irish on March 17, a wee bit of the love and lore of the old sod entered every heart. — Dot Jervis

GEORGIA

Photo by Jim Gaffey Rose Begley and fellow members of Atlanta's Hibernian Benevolent Society acknowledge the cheers of bystanders in the city made famous by Margaret Mitchell's Civil War novel "Gone With the Wind."

ATLANTA – More than 100,000 turned out Saturday, March 19, for Atlanta's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, celebrating Grand Marshal Ronald McDonald, or a reasonable facsimile thereof. The parade returned to downtown Atlanta after a five-year stint in the city's Buckhead section. The parade, the 124th in the city's history, was organized by the Atlanta St. Patrick's parade committee, which consists of the Hibernian Benevolent Society of Atlanta, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Clan Na nGael, the Fire Emerald Society of Metro Atlanta and Metropolitan Atlanta Police Emerald Society, and other community volunteers. Proceeds benefited the Atlanta-area Ronald McDonald House Charities. — James Gaffey

ILLINOIS

CHICAGO (SOUTH SIDE) – Chicago's South Side Irish Parade is actually the resurrection of the great parades of the '40s and '50's on the Irish south side that were so big Mayor Daley ordered it to the LOOP, at the request of the Chamber of Commerce.

Photo by Patrick Hickey Irish wool and children's freckles add to the feel of 'home' for Chicago's 300,000+ spectators. (Click on the image for a larger view.)

Twenty-seven years ago, a group of mothers and toddlers followed retired Chicago Police Captain Hennessy and the mythic "Killaloe Bird," a stuffed monstrosity said to be the bird of choice of Celtic Kings of old, down Washtenaw Street to 111th St. west and up Talman.

Beginning as a parade of families, the South Side Parade continues to honor neighbors and institutions that help people. This year's parade, held on Sunday, March 13, featured Co-Grand Marshals Little Company of Mary Hospital and the Gus (Evangelides) Foundation. The Gus Foundation helps victims of childhood brain tumors and is named after the late Gus Evangelides, who succumbed to brain cancer just short of his second birthday.

Photo by Patrick Hickey St. Rita High School President Tom McCarthy, OSA, center, connects with fellow South Siders on parade day. Father Tom is leading the school into its second century of service. (Click on the image for a larger view.)

A constant feature of the march, the hundreds of marchers from Misericordia Home, a Sisters of Mercy-run facility dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities, are a focus of every St. Patrick's Day Parade on the South Side. This year's parade drew more than 300,000 people.

More than 160 marching units marched past the reviewing stand, which featured Councilor Patrick Sheehan, Lord Mayor of Cork City, and Eddie McGrady, representing South Down in the United Kingdom Parliament. Units from the police and fire departments of Newark, Boston, Cleveland, Philadelphia, New York, and Houston marched with the South Side Irish.

The Sunday immediately before St. Patrick's Day is the traditional date for this event. Mark your calendars, and join us in '06. — Patrick Hickey

NEW YORK

Photo by Bill Bennett The Baldwin Fire Department's Jerry Brown, a 32-year veteran of the department, helped the department honor the 69th New York during the Rockville Centre parade, on Long Island.

ROCKVILLE CENTRE – The parade this year in Rockville Centre, held Saturday, March 19, was dedicated to the Fighting 69th. Thousands lined the curbs to watch the parade, the largest crowd ever to watch the parade, according to parade officials. Marching were 46 members of the Baldwin Fire Department Emerald Society. In November, Baldwin Firefighter Will Urbina was killed in action in Iraq, and a joint funeral was organized by the 69th and the Baldwin Fire Department. We in the Baldwin Fire Department thank all the military for their heroism and dedication to our common goal to wipe out terrorism in the world. God Bless The Fighting 69th! — Jerry Brown

WGT Photo/Gerry Regan Derek Warfield, right, and Derek Keane, left, perform at the famous 69th Regiment Armory in Manhattan after the parade in tribute to the service of Irish-Americans to the nation. The mural behind them depicts the 69th Infantry in action during World War I.

NEW YORK CITY – The "Granddaddy" of all St. Patrick's Day parades, the largest, and oldest, stepped off in New York for the 244th time. This year the annual protest by Irish-American gay organizations—barred by the parade organizers, the Ancient Order of Hibernians—was joined by another protesting group: the city's firefighters.

The firefighters were protesting the order by Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta that all firemen had to wear their dress blue, regulation caps. Since 1970, many firefighters had worn green berets while marching. Protesting firefighters gathered on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in green berets and civilian clothes to protest the order.

WGT Photo/Gerry Regan Westchester native Gene Bender Jr., here with his Dad, warms up a crowd of about 50 for Derek Warfield in the 69th Regiment Armory with a lively repertoire of Irish tunes.

The other focus of the day was on the 69th Regiment, New York National Guard, which has traditionally led the parade. This year their numbers were reduced to one company, as the others are now serving in Iraq. The 69th has suffered numerous casualties since their deployment in October, including Sgt. Christian Engeldrum, the first city firefighter to die in Iraq. (See WGT's Resources page for more on the 69th.) — News Reports

SUNNYSIDE (QUEENS) – This was the sixth annual "St. Pat's for All" parade born from the New York parade's prohibition of gay groups from marching. Founder Brendan Fay announced before the start of the parade: "Welcome to New York City's inclusive St. Patrick's Day parade. We're here to celebrate the spirit of Ireland and our Celtic heritage." (Visit the parade's website at http://www.stpatsforall.com/.) — News Reports

NORTH CAROLINA

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Jean Marie and Imelda show their Irish pride at Charlotte's Ninth Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival, Saturday, March 12.

PENNSYLVANIA

PHILADELPHIA – AOH/LAOH Division 51 proudly walks up Ben Franklin Parkway en route to the reviewing area of Philadelphia's 62nd annual parade, Sunday, March 13.

WASHINGTON

SEATTLE – This year's St. Patrick's Day parade in Seattle, the city's 34th, was seemingly the most contentious worldwide. Controversy developed when Cecil Calvert, the Unionist mayor of Lisburn, in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, decided to lead the parade carrying a Union Jack. Calvert, who had been invited as a gesture of healing the Unionist/ Nationalist divide in Northern Ireland, insisted later that he was not attempting to make any political statement, or cause any problems, by carrying the flag.

All along the route people in the crowd jeered him, and some even hurled objects at him. Some bystanders compared his gesture to marchers carrying a Confederate flag in a parade honoring Martin Luther King. The Union Jack, they say, was the flag that symbolized the military occupation of Ireland.

John Keane, a spokesman for the parade organizers, said officials tried to dissuade him, but did not want to censor him by refusing to allow him to carry the flag. Keane later reportedly said, "I was disappointed in him, but I was also disappointed in the reaction of some people. They allowed him to provoke them." It would seem likely that the incident made similar invitations in Seattle or elsewhere less likely, which would seem unfortunate for all involved. — News Reports