First Annual St. Patty's Day Parade Coming to Mam'k

For many centuries, St. Patrick’s Day has been both a religious holiday and a celebration of Irish culture, a veneration of the saint that is credited with introducing Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century.  Traditionally, Lent requirements were waived on March 17 allowing people to celebrate the anniversary of Patrick’s death—today, crowds of revelers decked out in green novelty hats and t-shirts proclaiming “Kiss Me I’m Irish” commemorate the holiday, regardless of their Irish heritage.

However, this year’s first annual Sound Shore St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Mamaroneck on March 18—one day after the official holiday—will be Irish to the core, with traditional pipe and drum music from several different bands and a bona fide Irishman—Habitat for Humanity of Westchester Executive Director Jim Killoran whose family hails from County Waterford—as the Grand Marshal.

Killoran is well-known in the Sound Shore area for his organization’s efforts to rehabilitate the community after several major disasters in the area, including, most recently, Tropical Storm Irene. Habitat for Humanity of Westchester—a New-Rochelle based local chapter of the international not-for-profit organization that helps families avert homelessness—was also on hand in 2007 to help Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) victims recover from the worst flooding to hit Mamaroneck in recent history.

And, since the chapter’s very first build on Laurel Street in Larchmont in 1988, Habitat has completed over 100 Mamaroneck home rebuilds.

Flanked by co-chairs of the Sound Shore St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, Killoran donned the Grand Marshal sash in the colors of the Irish flag.

“It’s a great honor to be the first Grand Marshal of the Sound Shore St. Patrick’s Day Parade here in Mamaroneck,” said Killoran. “My work with Habitat for Humanity has already acquainted me with the strong spirit of volunteerism and community in this area. As an Irish-American, I’m particularly pleased to see the latest manifestation of this community spirit come in the form of a celebration of Irish heritage."

The parade will begin at 12:30 on Sunday at Nostrand Avenue, near , and will end at Harbor Island, off Boston Post Road.  A celebratory mass will be held at  at 9:30 a.m. Sponsors of the parade include The Garden City Group, Inc., ., the Spillane Group , ,  and .

Those marching in the parade include the following:

Police Emerald Society of Westchester Pipes & Drums

Westchester & District Pipe Band            

O’Rourke Academy of Irish Dance           

Hendry School of Irish Dance           

Galwaymen’s Association

Byram Hill High School

Mamaroneck High School (MHS) baseball team

Emerald Society Department of Sanitation Pipes & Drums           

Habitat for Humanity High School Volunteers

Eastchester Irish American Social Club

Brassmen Drum & Bugle Corps.

Port Chester Fire Department

Lynn Academy of Irish Dance

Westchester Firefighter Emerald Society Pipes  & Drums

NYU Pipes & Drums            

Westchester & District Pipe Band

Village of Mamaroneck Fire Department            

Town of Mamaroneck Fire Department

Mamaroneck Youth Hockey Association

Harrison Fire Department

Tipperary N&B Association

Village of Mamaroneck Mayor Norm Rosenblum

NYU Pipes and Drums

Mamaroneck Avenue School 

Salesian High School marching band

The Sound Shore St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee are a group of locally-based Irish American businesses and residents committed to promoting the celebration of Irish heritage in the Sound Shore region. Officers include Michael Hynes, Kevin O’Shea and Timothy O’Neill. The 2012 Sound Shore St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the first event the committee has sponsored.  For more information on participating in the parade, becoming a volunteer, or to support the parade as a sponsor, contact the committee at info@soundshoreparade.com