New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade panel led by women

For the first time in the history of the Greater New Haven St. Patrick's Day Parade, there will be four women occupying key officer positions.

This year's parade will take place on March 12 at Chapel Street and Sherman Avenue, and will be led by Grand Marshal Joanne Conlan, Chairwoman Bernadette Canning, Secretary Cathleen Steinau Buckheit and Chief of Staff Fiona Stewart.

“I am very proud that we have women who have stepped up andworked so hard to be part of this historic moment,” said Conlan.

In the past, women were “never prohibited” to join the the parade committee but did not make an appearance until the 1980s, according to a press release. The first female Grand Marsh al was Kathy Reilly who took the position around 1989. There have been other female GrandMarshals likeKatie O'Keefe Gerhard, Mary Carter, Dorinda Borer and more. There has also been a parade queen. The parade began in 1842 as a way for Irish Americans to celebrate their independence from Great Britain.

“What we do and how we are represented is entirely different then howit was when the parade first started,” Canning said.

As a Grand Marshal, Conlan's duties are to attend meetings for the St. Patrick's Day Parade, lead the parade and help organize it. As a Chairwoman, Canning has the final word on financial matters.

“Being a part of the committee is like being CEO of a company. It really is pulling everything together,” Conlan said. “In order to be considered to be an officer, you have to be part of the parade committee for at least five years.”

Conlan has been part of the parade committee for 19 years and Canning for12 years. The committee running the parade is entirely volunteer-based. Each volunteer has been a member of one of the four Irish clubs in greater New Haven: the West Haven Irish American Club, Knights of St. Patrick, The Ancient Order ofHibernians and the New Haven Gaelic Football and Hurling Club.

The volunteers help with fundraising for the event, which Canning calls a “monumental” effort. The organization has to pay for musicians and security.

“The entire committee works year-round to do this,” Canning said.