{"id":165244,"date":"2026-03-16T18:14:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T18:14:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/165244\/"},"modified":"2026-03-16T18:14:02","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T18:14:02","slug":"park-slope-celebrates-irish-pride-at-brooklyns-51st-st-patricks-day-parade-brooklyn-paper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/165244\/","title":{"rendered":"Park Slope celebrates Irish Pride at Brooklyn\u2019s 51st St. Patrick\u2019s Day Parade \u2022 Brooklyn Paper"},"content":{"rendered":"

Park Slope was painted emerald green as Irish Americans and the \u201cIrish for a Day\u201d celebrated Irish culture and tradition at the 51st Annual Brooklyn St. Patrick\u2019s Day Parade on March 15.\n<\/p>\n

Brooklyn\u2019s longest-running shamrock procession kicked off at 1 p.m. at Bartell Pritchard Square with the introduction of this year\u2019s Grand Marshal, Pix 11 reporter Magee Hickey, and her aides Tara Hodgens, William B. Cullen Jr., Neil Patrick Callaghan, Mike Zwosta, Mark Barret, Maureen Shaffer Edison, John Patrick McGoldrick, Frank Sheridan, and Jim Donovan.<\/p>\n

The ceremony included a dedication honoring the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.\n<\/p>\n

\"\"Two FDNY members salute in remembrance of 9\/11 victims.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann \"\"FDNY members joined the 9\/11 dedication.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann<\/p>\n

Parade co-chair and historian Mary Hogan recalled that 25 years ago, the parade took place unaware that months later, a terror attack would kill thousands, including family, friends and neighbors.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s up to us to remember these people, repeat their names. They\u2019re not just names on a memorial. These are our friends. These were our New Yorkers. These were people who lived here with us,\u201d Hogan said. \u201cIt\u2019s up to us to remember September 11 and repeat these names so the next generations know who these people were and what happened that day.\u201d<\/p>\n

The pageantry of bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers, local politicians and community groups stepped off at 1:30 p.m. to the cheers of revelers \u2014 many decked out in shamrock green and proudly waving Irish flags \u2014 who lined the parade route along 15th Street, Seventh Avenue, Garfield Place and Prospect Park West.<\/p>\n

Grand Marshal Hickey, a Brooklyn native, was joined by her husband, children, grandchildren and siblings. She told Brooklyn Paper that she thought of her parents when she learned she would lead this year\u2019s parade.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m 70 years old, and this means a lot to me to be here,\u201d Hickey said. \u201cHow much I wish my parents were still alive to see this, because they would have been very proud.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\"\"This year\u2019s parade Grand Marshall was Pix 11 reporter Magee Hickey.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann \"\"Grand Marshal Magee Hickey poses with her parade aides at the 51st Annual Brooklyn St. Patrick\u2019s Day Parade.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann<\/p>\n

Donovan, who founded the Gerritsen Beach St. Patrick\u2019s Day Parade<\/a> 16 years ago in memory of his parents, serves as drum major of the Knights of Columbus Pipes and Drums, Council #126 \u2014 the only Knights of Columbus Pipes and Drums in the world, he explained.<\/p>\n

He told Brooklyn Paper he was honored to be an aide to the Grand Marshal and noted that marching in parades is steeped in family tradition.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cMy whole family, we\u2019ve all marched together for many, many years. Attending this parade is just an overwhelming joy, and Brooklyn parades are special to me. So being an aide is really special, because I\u2019ve been giving out sashes for 20 years, and now I finally got one,\u201d Donovan said, noting that the Manhattan St. Patrick\u2019s Day Parade on Tuesday marks a historic day for the tri-state Knights of Columbus chapters, as all chapters will march together instead of separately.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was able to pull that together, working with the Supreme Council in New York State and New York councils,\u201d he added.
\n\"\"The Knights of Columbus Pipes and Drums Council #126 Drum Major Jim Donovan, was one of the parade aides.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann\n<\/p>\n

Robert Murphy, aka \u201cThe Cardinal,\u201d founded the Knights of Columbus Pipes and Drums, Council #126, in 1991 and handed over the baton to Donovan this year. He told Brooklyn Paper that celebrating Irish heritage is \u201cin his blood.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy grandparents, their parents, came to the United States; that blood is in me. [We] carry on the tradition,\u201d Murphy, who served as an aide in 2023, said.\n<\/p>\n

At the parade\u2019s pre-breakfast at Nitehawk Cinema on Prospect Park West, local lawmakers, including Assembly members Robert Carroll and Jo Ann Simon, State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, Deputy Borough President Kim Council, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, and Council Member Shahana Hanif, joined members of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Brooklyn and the Brooklyn Irish LGBTQ Organization to celebrate the historical significance of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, and the immigrant experience, not only for the Irish but for all immigrants.<\/p>\n

\"\"Assembly Member Jo Ann Simon, Council Member Shahana Hanif, District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, Assembly Member Robert Carroll, Deputy Borough President Kim Council, and District Leader Diana Gonzalez celebrate the immigrant experience.<\/p>\n

Carroll, whose grandfather, John Carroll, was one of the founding members of the Brooklyn St. Patrick\u2019s Parade, said that \u201ceveryone was Irish\u201d on St. Patrick\u2019s Day because of their shared immigrant experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen that parade started, it was about the Irish diaspora coming to America, and showing their pride,\u201d Carroll said. \u201cWhat I think is so important is that we\u2019ve now seen hundreds of years of immigration and different groups show that exact same pride.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hanif, the daughter of Bangladeshi immigrant parents, highlighted similarities between Brooklyn\u2019s Irish and Bangladeshi communities.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth of the countries were under [British] colonial rule, and Bangladesh fought for language preservation. It ultimately led to the country\u2019s independence in 1971. It\u2019s so incredibly empowering to know that we\u2019re fighters; we believe in upholding the truth and justice,\u201d Hanif said.<\/p>\n

\"\"Members of the Brooklyn Irish LGBTQ Organization (BILO) have marched in the parade since 2019.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann<\/p>\n

Matthews McMorrow, co-founder of the Brooklyn Irish LGBTQ Organization (BILO), which has marched in the parade since 2019, told Brooklyn Paper that supporting the LGBTQ community was more important given attacks from the federal government and the far right.<\/p>\n

\u201cLGBTQ people belong to every community, including the Irish American community,\u201d McMorrow said. \u201cWe have to continue to show up, continue to be visible, continue to demonstrate that we are here and that we are part of the fabric of society.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Dylan Yates (left) traces his Irish ancestors, who settled in Brooklyn 150 years ago.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann<\/p>\n

Dylan Yates joined the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Brooklyn, founded in 1861, three years ago. He told Brooklyn Paper that his Irish ancestors settled in Brooklyn 150 years ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeeing how Irish Americans were able to overcome adversity and become leaders in a country that initially reviled them, and then use that influence to free Ireland, which was a British colony when my ancestors came, and now is a free country, is pretty amazing,\u201d Yates said. \u201cA lot of the members of the Friendly Sons, we really, especially in this political moment, appreciate the fact that our ancestors were immigrants. We have to work to make it easier for the next generation, not forget that, and not take that for granted.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Brooklyn\u2019s longest-running St. Patrick\u2019s Day parade kicked off at Bartell Pritchard Square. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann \"\"The pageantry of the 51st Annual Brooklyn St. Patrick\u2019s Day Parade featured bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers, local politicians and community groups, celebrating Irish heritage. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann \"\"Even the dogs were Irish for the day. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann \"\"Parade revelers cheered the pageantry of bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers, local politicians and community groups. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann \"\"Parade revelers cheered the pageantry of bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers, local politicians and community groups. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann \"\"Parade revelers cheered the pageantry of bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers, local politicians and community groups. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann \"\"The pageantry of the 51st Annual Brooklyn St. Patrick\u2019s Day Parade featured bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers, local politicians and community groups, celebrating Irish heritage. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann \"\"The pageantry of the 51st Annual Brooklyn St. Patrick\u2019s Day Parade featured bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers, local politicians and community groups, celebrating Irish heritage. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann \"\"The pageantry of the 51st Annual Brooklyn St. Patrick\u2019s Day Parade featured bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers, local politicians and community groups, celebrating Irish heritage. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann \"\"Parade revelers cheered the pageantry of bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers, local politicians and community groups. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann \"\"The pageantry of the 51st Annual Brooklyn St. Patrick\u2019s Day Parade featured bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers, local politicians and community groups, celebrating Irish heritage. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann \"\"The Irish For Racial Justice were invited to march in this year\u2019s parade by Assembly Member Robert Carroll. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann \"\"The pageantry of the 51st Annual Brooklyn St. Patrick\u2019s Day Parade featured bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers, local politicians and community groups, celebrating Irish heritage. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann \"\"Parade revelers cheered the pageantry of bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers, local politicians and community groups. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann \"\"The pageantry of the 51st Annual Brooklyn St. Patrick\u2019s Day Parade featured bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers, local politicians and community groups, celebrating Irish heritage. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann<\/p>\n

\"\"Parade revelers cheered the pageantry of bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers, local politicians and community groups. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann \"\"Parade revelers cheered the pageantry of bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers, local politicians and community groups. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann \"\"Parade revelers cheered the pageantry of bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers, local politicians and community groups. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann \"\"Parade revelers cheered the pageantry of bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers, local politicians and community groups. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Park Slope was painted emerald green as Irish Americans and the \u201cIrish for a Day\u201d celebrated Irish culture…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":165245,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[23206,98,100,67906,99,67907,14338,67908,16134,9,24,12,370,63,8005,46080,67909,67910],"class_list":["post-165244","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-brooklyn","tag-assemblyman-robert-carroll","tag-brooklyn","tag-brooklyn-headlines","tag-brooklyn-irish-lgbtq-organization","tag-brooklyn-news","tag-brooklyn-st-patricks-day-parade","tag-irish","tag-irish-heritage","tag-marching-band","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-news","tag-newsletter","tag-nyc","tag-park-slope","tag-st-patricks-day","tag-st-patricks-day-parade-2026","tag-the-friendly-sons-of-st-patrick"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/165244","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=165244"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/165244\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/165245"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=165244"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=165244"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=165244"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}