19
COURIER LIFE, MARCH 25-31, 2022
Luck of the Irish returns to P’Slope
BY MEAGHAN MCGOLDRICK
Irish eyes were smiling
throughout Brooklyn on March
20 as the borough’s oldest St. Patrick’s
Day celebration returned
to Park Slope for the first time
since the start of the pandemic.
The 45th annual Brooklyn
St. Pat’s Parade began with a
mass at the Holy Name of Jesus
Church at 245 Prospect
Park West, after which revelers
headed to Bartel-Pritchard
Square on the southwestern tip
of Prospect Park, where the parade
stepped off at 1 pm.
“We couldn’t ask for nicer parade
weather or a better day,” said
Mary Hogan, parade co-chairperson.
“We’re extremely proud of
the large turnout, both in terms
of marching groups and onlookers.
People were happy to be out
and amongst friends again.”
As in years past, the comingtogether
of Brooklyn’s Irish (and
Irish for the day) featured several
bands and dance troupes,
activities for kids like face painting
and arts-and-crafts, and old
memorabilia reminiscent of the
Motherland, such as antique
cars from Ireland.
Brooklyn Parks Commissioner
Martin “Marty” Maher
led this year’s parade as grand
marshal, flanked by aides Rita
Carron (Ladies Ancient Order
of Hibernian, Kings County),
Raymond Conlon (United Irish
Counties Association of New
York, County Sligo Association),
Maureen Foley (aide-atlarge,
parade volunteer), Adam
Keaney (Gaelic Sports, Brooklyn
Shamrocks Gaelic Football
Club), Denis McCaffrey (Ancient
Order of Hibernians in
America, Kings County), Erin
O’Donnell (Irish Culture, Director,
O’Donnell Academy of Irish
Dance) and Sue Walsh (Catholic
Education, St. Saviour Catholic
Academy).
Martin Bellew also marched
in memory of his brother Sean
Bellew, a member of the Grand
Council of United Emerald Societies
and the Con Edison Emeralds
who died since being tapped
to help lead the 45th annual parade,
originally scheduled for
March 2020.
“I was incredibly honored
and humbled to serve as the parade
grand marshal. I had so
much fun out there but the true
joy came from marching with
many of the scouts I’ve mentored
and worked with for over
50 years,” said Maher in a statement
provided to Brooklyn Paper.
“I’m grateful that I’ve seen
them morph into not just men
but also upstanding, good citizens.
Serving yesterday was
also about honoring the dedicated
members of the U.S. Coast
Guard who work tirelessly to
keep us safe around the world.
And lastly, I have to express my
gratitude and pride for the men
and women of NYC Parks who
help keep Brooklyn’s 877 parks
spaces clean and safe for the
public to enjoy all year-round.”
The newest installment of
the parade comes 47 years after
Irish immigrant John Carroll, a
longtime community advocate,
helped found the parade to bring
attention to various problems
plaguing the Irish community
in 1975. Carroll’s grandson, Robert
Carroll, now represents Park
Slope in the state Assembly.
Right before kickoff, event
organizers held a “rededication
ceremony” to the heroes
and victims of 9/11 — whom the
parade is held in honor of each
year. This year’s festivities were
also held in memory of former
parade participants Kevin Peter
Carroll, Hugh Harvey, Patrick
Heaney, Joe Ferris, Charles
Hynes, Edward Duffy, Alfred E.
Jennings, and Mary McMullan.
Parade co-chair Hogan said
that, while this year certainly
served as a homecoming for
many, next year will be even
grander. “We promise next year
we’ll be back — even bigger and
better,” she said.
Additional reporting by
Aidan Graham
Scenes from the 2022 Brooklyn St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which kicked off in Park
Slope on Sunday, March 20. Photos by Arthur de Gaeta