WOOD Radio Local News

WOOD Radio Local News

WOOD Radio Local News

 

Irish Cultural Committee to host St. Patrick's parade this Saturday in GR

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Irish Cultural Committee will host the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Grand Rapids nearly a week before the traditional Irish holiday.

The Saturday, March 11 event returns after a three-year hiatus. It will stage in front of Veteran's Park, adjacent to the Grand Rapids Public Library. That is on Library Street. The marchers will step off at 11 a.m., heading south on Sheldon Avenue down to Fulton Street, then going west on Fulton Street to Ottawa Avenue. After that, they will turn right and go north on Ottawa up to Calder Plaza. Ottawa will be closed to vehicular traffic there; that is why the marchers will be allowed to walk northward on a normally southbound-only street.

Patrick Sullivan is the treasurer of the host organization, the Irish Cultural Committee, which is assisted by the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He says a closing ceremony will take place at Calder Plaza.

"Where the American national anthem, the Irish national anthem - sung in Gaelic - in addition to honoring the grand marshal, Joe Carmody," Sullivan said.

The Spirit of Ireland will be Julia Lillis.

Sullivan said the St. Patrick's parade was canceled the past two years because of the health concerns about spreading the contagious COVID-19 disease.

"The reason we are returning is we think it's very important for the community to get together, as springtime is (almost) upon us. It's a great way to get outdoors. It's a family-friendly event," he said.

The event is free to attend.

"It's just a convivial atmosphere where you just see strangers striking up conversations," Sullivan said. "It's very important for us all to kind of get together and celebrate the Irish national day, St. Patrick's Day, here with the Irish-American community in Grand Rapids."

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