Hundreds of parade-goers lined the streets of Mineola and nearby Garden City to catch a glimpse of the 68th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade that was hosted by the Irish American Society this past Sunday.
This year’s grand marshal was Jeff Clark who is a former chief of the Mineola Fire Department and who recently became the new president of the Irish American Society. As grand marshal, Clark was aided by Michelle Byrne, Declan Coles, Nancy Doyle and Ciaran Spillane.
“St. Patrick’s Day is one of the most celebrated days as we honor a great man who brought Christianity to Ireland,” said Clark. “We celebrate our Irish culture through events such as parades, so to be the grand marshal of the parade is among the highest honors and I am extremely proud to be the grand marshal.”
Mayor Scott Strauss and the board of trustees, the Mineola Chamber of Commerce, the Mineola High School Mustang Marching Band, Boy Scout Troop 45, the Mineola Fire Department, the Mineola Junior Firefighters, the Mineola Volunteer Ambulance Corps and many other local organizations, schools and Scout troops participated at this year’s parade.
After the parade concluded, guests were invited back to the Irish American Society center where they enjoyed a fun afternoon that was filled with food, dancing and music by Peter McKiernan.
