The Mayor of Shannon, Ireland Joins the March on Morris Avenue

UNION, NJ--The 12th Annual Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. sharp on Morris Avenue in the Township of Union, NJ, as thousands of marchers and spectators gather to celebrate the patron saint of Ireland.

The 2008 Grand Marshal, Elizabeth native Jim Lowney Sr., will lead the march of bagpipe and high school bands, local police and fire department units, floats and many more organizations through the center of Union.

“It’s a distinct honor to be chosen to lead the Union County Irish in a dignified parade that celebrates our patron saint, our rich heritage and the contributions of generations of the Irish immigrants to America,” Grand Marshal Lowney said.

Thanks to the efforts of the Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee working behind the scenes year-round, the Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade has grown from drawing 10,000 spectators during its inaugural run in 1997 to more than 40,000 on-lookers last year. This 2008 parade is dedicated to all of New Jersey’s teachers and educational support staff for their commitment and extraordinary efforts in service to the community.

In keeping with a parade tradition, officials from Shannon, Ireland will be marching for the twelfth straight year. As guests of the Union County Emerald Society, Shannon Mayor Sean McLoughlin, his wife Catherine and Shannon Town Clerk Tomas MacCornaic will join in the Union County celebration of St. Patrick.

The Joseph Nugent Sr. Association of Union County nominated Lowney for Grand Marshal and the Union County Emerald Society seconded the motion. He was elected unanimously by representatives of the parade committee’s 17 member organizations and parade officers. Lowney is well known throughout New Jersey and beyond for his 30 years of newspaper columns in the Irish Echo and the Irish Edition.

Lowney, who resides in Toms River, has strong ties with Ireland and deep roots in Union County. Born in Elizabeth, he was raised in Hillside by Patrick Lowney from Castletownbere, County Cork and Elizabeth Lamont Lowney from Coleraine, County Derry.

In addition to his well-read columns about the Irish in New Jersey, he has also been active for decades in the state’s Irish-American community promoting Irish culture through education, historical preservation, festivals, fundraisers and countless parades around the Garden State.

According to Parade Adjutant Karen Cunningham, who also coordinates parade logistics with the Township of Union, the 2008 Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade will feature high school marching bands from the Township of Union and City of Elizabeth, more than 20 bagpipe bands including the Union County Police & Fire Pipes & Drums and the St. Columcille United Gaelic Pipe Band, Fourth Degree color guards from the Knights of Columbus, non-profit units, local police and fire departments and floats provided by the Center for Hope Hospice and the Garden State Ceili Club.

A Mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Elizabeth at 9 a.m. to begin the day followed by a welcoming reception in the church hall. St. Patrick’s Church is located at 215 Court Street in Elizabeth, NJ 07206.

The family-friendly festivities kick off at 12 noon at the reviewing stand located at the corner of Morris and Stuyvesant Avenues in Union Center with a warm Irish welcome from parade officials, traditional Irish music and Irish step-dancing. The one-mile parade will begin at 1 p.m. at Commerce Street and Morris Avenue, proceeding east on Morris Avenue to Union Center and south onto Stuyvesant Avenue, ending at Roosevelt Avenue.

This year, the parade will feature a bigger and better Kid Zone presented by the Union Special Improvement District. The Kid Zone will feature inflatable rides, walk-around entertainers and activities for the whole family. Located on Stuyvesant and Morris Avenues, the Kid Zone brings additional amusement for young visitors, as well as the young-at-heart.