Shamrocks & Sunshine for the 50th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade
By Katie McFadden
With a 50-degree sunny day for the 50th Annual Queens County St. Patrick’s Day Parade, it sure was one for the books! Everyone from bagpipe bands to Irish dancers, firefighters, police, NY Guard, classic cars, community groups and more, all led by Grand Marshal Terence Mullin, marched in this year’s parade on Saturday, March 1, kicking off St. Patrick’s season.
At the kickoff on Beach 130th Street, Sheila Cassidy sang the National Anthem and this year’s honorees including Mullin, honorary grand marshals, Dr. James McLaughlin and Eileen Flannelly Mackell, deputy grand marshals John Tansey, Brian Sharkey, James Moroney, Patrick Clark, Joanne Larcheveque, Catherine O’Connor, Bill Dunn, Michael Wallace, Melissa Farrell, Kevin Bagley, Brendan Gallagher and Thomas Meyer, cut the ribbon to start the parade. As crowds cheered, the parade made its way down Newport Avenue to Beach 116th Street and then down Rockaway Beach Boulevard, past the grandstand at Beach 105th Street. With temperatures around 55 degrees until strong winds hit later in the afternoon, it made for a great day for the parade and festivities afterwards.
Congratulations to Queens County Parade President Mike Benn and his committee for bringing it all together. Benn will have the honor of serving as Grand Marshal for the 264th New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on Monday, March 17.
Photos by Dan Guarino, Katie McFadden and Nicole Taylor-Lang.
