Devendra Kumar
As St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated a day early, Americans are marking the holiday with parades and festivities across the country. The holiday, largely credited to Irish immigrants, has a rich history in the United States, with parades dating back to 1762 in Manhattan. This year, the Manhattan parade, one of the world’s largest Irish heritage celebrations, was boosted by the presence of grand marshal Maggie Timoney, the first female head of a major US beer company. The parade, which took place on Saturday, featured bagpipers, bands, police and military contingents, and more. One attendee, Stransky, a Houston native, attended the parade with her relatives, stating that “there is no comparison to any other parade or city” she’s been to.
The grand marshal, Maggie Timoney, was praised for her work as CEO of Heineken USA, and the recognition was seen as a highlight of the celebration. In addition to the Manhattan parade, other events took place across the country, including the annual Savannah, Georgia parade, which started in 1824 and expected a historic crowd to participate this year. The event was also notable for its bicentennial celebrations, with nearly 18,000 hotel rooms booked for the weekend.
Meanwhile, in New York City, the St. Patrick’s Day parade was significant for its inclusion of LGBTQ+ groups, which were allowed to march in the parade for the first time last year. This year, a privately organized event on Staten Island allowed for a separate, LGBTQ+-inclusive parade to take place on Sunday. Mayor Eric Adams announced plans for the new event after a local group requested to participate in the borough’s decades-old parade, which did not allow LGBTQ+ groups.
The parade, which took place at the end of last month, was a major celebration for the Irish American community, with Attorney General Letitia James and Governor Kathy Hochul joining in the festivities. The event was also notable for its environmentally friendly dyeing of the Chicago River, using a powder once used to check pipes for leaks. The parades across America served as a celebration of Irish heritage and a reminder of the importance of inclusivity and diversity in modern society, as people from all backgrounds came together to mark the occasion.