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2006 Baton Rouge
Louisiana Saint Patrick's Day Parade
Saturday, March
18, 2006 10 am
Parade starts at:
10am
Parade date:
March 18,
2006 (Saturday)
Parade location:
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Parade route:
Begins at the corner of Hundred Oaks and South Acadian Thruway (by Catholic
Life Center); takes right on Eugene; takes left on Terrace; takes final left
on Perkins Road and continues down over the overpass ending just under the
interstate. All floats continue to roll through the intersection at Lee
Drive though the parade has ended.
Baton Rouge’s St.
Patrick’s Day Parade called The Wearin’ of the Green will celebrate the day
on March 18, 2006 rolling promptly at 10am. The parade route starts at the
intersection of Hundred Oaks and South Acadian Thruway, bears right onto
Eugene, turns left onto Terrace, makes a sharp left onto Perkins and
progresses over the Perkins Road Overpass and disbands at Perkins and
Acadian. It is the only street that will be peppered with green shamrocks.
The Parade, which
began in 1986, welcomes New Orleanians and all newcomers to the area. This
year’s Grand Marshal is District Attorney Harry Morel.
Recognizing all that New Orleans has endured
since August, the selection committee desired to call further recognition to
what the Irish have accomplished and contributed to New Orleans especially
with the construction of the Irish Channel. Harry Morel's ancestry was a
great contributor to that end.
Harry's contribution to
other Irish related efforts in St. Charles Parish and the greater New
Orleans area include his financial and fund-raising support for the New
Orleans Pipe and Drum Band. As a master piper, he continues to compete. He
is also the founder of the "Four Leaf Clover" Society, an organization that
attends numerous banquets and benefits by reciting Irish poems, jokes and
odes.
Harry is also excellent
"Carragh" racer. A Carragh is a small boat used by the Irish for fishing
and traveling purposes. In 2000 with the finish line in sight at the "St.
Charles Parish Carragh Races", Harry rescued a fellow oarsman from the icy
waters rather than speeding across the finish line to capture the title for
the eleventh time.
Harry has been
recognized by the country of Ireland and the city of Killarney for his
achievements and accomplishments. He travels there to renew acquaintances
and is a member of the Killarney Inner Circle whose members also include
former Grand Marshal’s Ivar Quigley, Denis Coffey and Thomas "Junior"
Finnegan.
In the words of Crews
LeBlanc, ”Harry Morel not only represents St. Charles Parish but has been
instrumental in writing and constructing legal briefs that will be used in
the courts in perpetuity..." "We hope that his designation as Grand
Marshall for this year's parade will not detract from his expected future
position and selection on the Louisiana State Supreme Court."
Farin Rafferty of
County Cork, Ireland responded: "Harry Morel's stature in our country is
only heightened by his selection as Grand Marshall in Baton Rouge,
Louisiana." "Harry was the 227th recipient of the Mick Hickey Humanitarian
Award presented by Con Horgan on his recent visit to Ireland."
For the first three
years the parade rolled from the City Park Golf Course to Zee Zee Gardens
and was primarily a walking parade with a few dignitaries, convertibles and
old cars. Pat Shingleton walked at the end of the parade after he made sure
everything was okay, a tradition he still follows in 2006. This year, the
Caledonian Pipers of Baton Rouge led by David Goldsmith,
Jr., the Celtic Society of Baton Rouge Pipe Band led by Marty Bergin, the
United States Marine Corps Marching band, decorated floats, local
dignitaries and numerous area school marching bands will entertain the
crowds. Mayor President Kip Holden and his wife Lois will join Bishop Robert
W. Muench in a horse drawn carriage. Two previous Killarney Grand Marshals,
Ivar Quigley
(2002) and Thomas J. Finnegan
(Junior), from Killarney, Ireland
(2005) will return to make the ride
again this year in the Shingleton and Hammett firetruck..
The Real Yellow Pages
from Bell South, Walk-Ons Bistreaux and Mockler Beverage Budweiser are
Corporate sponsors this year.
Parade Organizers Pat
Shingleton and Grey Hammett of The Parade Group, LLC, expect the
traditional numbers of 135,000 green clad bead grabbing parade watchers to
increase simply due to the increased population of the area.
To find out more about
the 21st parade, visit
www.paradegroup.com. Rain or shine, the parade rolls and it seems like
rain or shine, the crowds are there.225-925-8295
PARADE LINE
Mabyn Shingleton
225-218-9866
225-505-5466 cell
http://www.paradegroup.com/
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