Area residents will be treated to yet another gift from Greater Dundalk’s fabulous network of volunteers this Saturday when the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade kicks off at 11 a.m. from the Logan Village Shopping Center on Dundalk Avenue.
Even Mother Nature is on board for this year's event. On the heels of some of the most brutally cold weather any of us can remember, Saturday’s high temperature is projected to be about 58 degrees. In the past, this parade has been snowed out, rained out and greeted by nasty cold temps. If Saturday’s forecast holds out, look for parade watchers to be in shorts and flip-flops as they welcome this unofficial beacon of spring.
Though Dundalk has a rich Irish heritage, the town’s St. Patrick’s Day parade is an infant in comparison to other community celebrations and events. Dundalk was founded and named by Henry McShane, the founder of the McShane Bell Foundry. The McShanes named a railroad stop that served the foundry Dundalk after Henry McShane’s hometown in Ireland, and the name stuck for the community now known as Dundalk.
"Over 300,000 McShane church bells ring out from the towers of cathedrals, churches, municipal buildings, universities and schools every day, all over the world," according to the foundry's website. "Our bells are produced using time-honored techniques and with state-of-the-art foundry craftsmanship and technologies to produce bronze church bells that are as beautiful to hear as they are to view."
"Over 300,000 McShane church bells ring out from the towers of cathedrals, churches, municipal buildings, universities and schools every day, all over the world," according to the foundry's website. "Our bells are produced using time-honored techniques and with state-of-the-art foundry craftsmanship and technologies to produce bronze church bells that are as beautiful to hear as they are to view."
Today, many McShanes still call the Greater Dundalk area home, and the family serves as the Grand Marshal of the procession each year.
Many organizations, including the Dundalk Chamber of Commerce and the Heritage Fair Association, sponsor and organize the parade. The lineup includes pipe bands (of course), honor guards, antique cars and fire apparatus, community groups and organizations, clowns and Irish dancers.
Off all the exciting and fun participants listed in the parade lineup, one category of marchers is glaringly (but pleasantly, in my opinion) missing. In a sure sign that 2015 is not an election year, there is not one single elected leader or wannabe scheduled to march, according to the lineup as printed in this week’s Dundalk Eagle.
That’s an even better reason (again, in my opinion) to make sure you show up and support this great family-oriented event in downtown Dundalk!
Grab your chairs and blankets (just in case) and enjoy the show. It starts at 11 a.m Saturday (March 14). The procession will kick off from the Logan Village Shopping Center, travel up Dundalk Avenue and follow much of the traditional 4th of July parade route, including marching along in front of the Dundalk Village Shopping Center.
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