Times Chronicle & Public Spirit
A great and glorious way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
AOH parade to once again the hit streets of Conshohocken
As Irish actor Jamie Dornan recently explained to TV talk host Jimmy Kimmel, it’s St. Paddy’s Day, not St. Patty’s Day — a nod to Patrick’s Gaelic version: Padraic. And, added Belfast-born Dornan, he and his pals are more likely to chow down on ‘tato smashie sandwiches than corned beef when they tip their hats to the Emerald Isle’s patron saint. That said, area Irishmen and women invite all to the St. Patrick’s Parade in Conshohocken with a Cead Mile Failte (a hundred thousand welcomes) — regardless of heritage or culinary leaning.
COVID’s derailment of the festivities in 2020 and 2021 made members of Montgomery County’s Ancient Order of Hibernians, Notre Dame Division 1, the parade’s hosts, even more determined than usual to stage their annual celebration of all things Irish.
“Coming out of the pandemic, this is a good opportunity for people to get outside and have a good time with friends and family,” Parade Chairman Jim Gallagher says. “Everybody’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, and everybody’s welcome.”
The Hibernians figure their parade’s two-year disruption makes Bobby Whitmore its “longest reigning grand marshal.”
“But the wait has been long enough for everyone, and once the word got out after Conshohocken Borough Council approved the parade, people in town started making plans for the big day (with) invitations…being sent out to relatives and friends to save the date for the big event…townspeople planning house parties (and) barbeques, not to mention the local businesses stocking up on supplies for the sea of green,” Hibernian Pete Hand says. “The theme of the parade is ‘May the Road Rise Up to Meet You.’ That road in Conshohocken is Fayette Street, and it will be full of Irish cheer and celebration from beginning to end along the one-mile parade route.
“The last couple years have been rough, as everyone knows. Jim Gallagher and the rest of the parade committee are praying this year’s parade moves along without a hitch. The people need a break, and an event likes this will really perk the people up and, maybe, the first steps back to normal lives. Maybe pull that statue out of the Blessed Mother, and put it in the window to help look over us.”
For his part, Whitmore has been officially “sashed” and is “counting the days” until the parade’s 2 p.m. kick-off. The 2022 grand marshal is a charter member of Swedesburg-based AOH Notre Dame Division 1 and Irish Thunder Pipes and Drums. Notes one AOH tribute, the honoree is also “a big supporter of veterans out of VFW 7878 in King of Prussia where he organized a VFW bikers group called the VFW 7878 Riders that helps support veterans.”
The 2022 Fayette Street parade will feature a variety of bands from the tri-county area — among them, Irish Thunder Pipes and Drums, Philadelphia Police and Fire Pipes and Drums, Cardinal Dougherty Alumni Band, Valley Forge Military Academy Marching Band and South Philly String Band — a number of Irish dancers, including performers from Coyle School of Irish Dance, and members of several local fire companies and fraternal organizations.
Senator Mark Daly, Senate chair in Ireland’s House of Parliament, will be one of several special guests.
The yearly St. Patrick’s Parade switched venues from Norristown to Conshohocken in 2006 and has been a major crowd draw ever since. Mayor Yaniv Aronson encourages fans to “come out and support the AOH Bridgeport, all of the wonderful parade participants and our small Conshohocken businesses along the parade route.”
“It was heartbreaking to not have this event the last two years, but Conshohocken Borough is so thrilled to welcome back the St. Patrick’s Parade,” Aronson continues. “I know this will be the biggest and best parade yet.”
The event’s date is March 26 at 2 p.m. Additional information is available at www.aohnd1. com and Facebook (for both AOHND 1 and Conshohocken Saint Patrick’s Parade).