Brooklynites came out to Park Slope in the thousands on Sunday to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at the neighborhood’s 49th annual parade.
The march, organized by the Brooklyn St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, first started in 1975 when a group of Irish American Brooklynites joined forces to celebrate their shared heritage, recognize the vast contributions made by their community throughout American history and remember the Battle of Brooklyn in 1776.
The group — composed of Kaye Brideson, Kathleen McDonagh, Joan McLaughlin, John Carroll, Richard Henry, Ann McAvey and Peter Heaney — eventually formed what is now recognized as the Brooklyn St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee. The committee showcased their pride and appreciation for their community and came to honor “Faith, History, Tribute and Remembrance” as the celebration’s core values.
“Throughout the years, the theme of each parade has been focused on a historic event, person, centennial, bicentennial or tricentennial,” Mary Hogan, the parade’s vice chairperson and historian said in a statement. Past themes have ranged from “How The Irish Saved Civilization” to the 2004 Centennial and even the New York City subway system — built, operated and organized by Irish workers and labor leaders.
More than half-a-century since its inception, the parade — the borough’s longest-running — has remained dedicated to preserving and honoring their heritage.
“For many years to follow, through the annual parade, the parade journal, its Grand Marshals, and the Aides to the Grand Marshals, the Committee has worked diligently to make the general public and our Irish American community more aware of our culture, our heritage and the vast contributions made by the Irish to the civic, public and religious life of our Borough, City, State and Nation,” Hogan said. “May we continue the pioneering work of our founders in this very important and noble endeavor.”
An estimated 6,000 people attended Sunday’s parade, which ran along Prospect Park Southwest in Park Slope. Participants included marching bands, dancers, community groups and local organizations with attorney Gerard L. Keogh serving as this year’s parade grand marshal. Clann Eireann Irish Pipe Band, the oldest continuing pipe band in the US, led the procession with Irish step dancers from the Buckley School of Dance, serving as a festive start to the celebration.
Keogh was flanked by aides Ray Aalbue, Brian Laffey, Deirdre O’Hea, Randy Litz, Chris Hart, Maureen Byrne O’Neill, Barbara Wasserman and Liam Flaherty.
After the parade, revelers headed to Holy Name of Jesus Parish, where celebrations continued with a dinner of corned beef and cabbage along with refreshments.
The parade was a huge success, with parade chairperson Michelle Brennan-Conlon calling the day “a joyous occasion where people come together to celebrate and enjoy the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day.”
Brooklyn elected officials also marked the holiday, with Council Member Justin Brannan paying special tribute to the significant contributions Irish immigrants made — and continue to make — in shaping New York City.
“Irish immigrants faced the ugliest bigotry and economic hardships NYC had to offer yet they retained their cultural and religious beliefs and left an indelible mark on our city and the nation,” Brannan posted on X, the formerly known as Twitter. “Today we honor the contributions and resilience of the Irish spirit. Sláinte!”
Assembly Member Robert Carroll lauded the day’s beautiful weather and called the parade — at home in his district — “a wonderful Brooklyn tradition.”
