| |
2008 Mystic Connecticut's
Saint Patrick's Day Parade
Sunday, March 30,
2008 at 1PM
marks the 5th
Annual Mystic St. Patrick’s parade.
2008 St. Patrick's Day Parades in the State
or Connecticut
Mystic Connecticut will host a Saint Patrick Parade on March 30th starting
at 1PM in the afternoon. Over 650 marchers scheduled to participate
and for us it is a first for our corner of Connecticut. Everyone is
cordially invited to attended. Please note arrive early as parking
is anticipated to be a problem. The parade accessible off Interstate 95
at either exit 89 or 90. Just follow the signs for directions.
A
hundred thousand welcomes ‘Cead Mile Failte’ to the 2008 Mystic St. Patrick’s
parade.
The Mystic Irish Parade Foundation, Inc. is proud to recognize this year’s
parade as our historic 5th Annual parade, and we have clearly established a very
popular and growing tradition in Mystic and surrounding communities. March 30,
2008 at 1PM marks the 5th Annual Mystic St. Patrick’s parade.
Here on the parade’s website you’ll find important information for both parade
participants and parade spectators alike; including the 2008 Parade application,
Parade instructions, Parade map, Sponsorship information, and other
announcements about upcoming fundraising events to help support the parade. You
may also contact us directly if you have any questions.
The Mystic Irish Parade Foundation, Inc. (MIPF) was founded in 2004 to create a
greater understanding and appreciation of Irish and Irish-American culture and
its traditions through art, dance and music in southeastern Connecticut. In
addition to the annual parade, MIPF supports local organizations including youth
groups, neighborhood centers, and volunteer groups. Each year, the MIPF Board of
Directors seek to identify organizations within our community that strive to
achieve goals which are closely aligned with our mission statement;
specifically, benefiting the general public within our community.
MIPF welcomes you to the 2008 Mystic St. Patrick’s Parade. We simply couldn’t
have a successful event without your participation, energetic spirit, and
support and we hope you have a wonderful time at the parade.
Slainte,
Leo Roche
Chairperson, on behalf of the Mystic Irish Parade Foundation, Inc.
The
Mystic Irish Parade Foundation
proudly announces 3 exciting events for March.
On
March 10th the Mystic
Irish Parade Foundation will host our 3rd annual
"Naturally Irish" Gourmet Dinner to
be held at the Seamen's Inne. The Menu, comprised of all natural and organic
foods presented by Christine Cooney of Puritan & Genesta Natural Foods, will be
hosted by The Seamen's Inne and The Mystic Seaport. Providing festive and
cultural entertainment for the evening will be traditional Irish entertainer
Paul Pender. Paul, an accomplished musician, often played at local
establishments throughout the area prior to opening his own pub in Wallingford.
The evening will start with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at 6:00 PM followed by
dinner at 7:00 PM. Tickets are $75 per person and are available at Puritan &
Genesta Natural Foods and Harp & Hound. For tickets or more information please
contact Christine Cooney at 860-536-3537.
On the eve
of this year’s parade, March 24th,
the Foundation will continue the festivities by hosting a
Benefit Concert at the Seaman’s Inne.
The featured musicians of the evening will be
Aoife Clancy and Robbie O’Connell.
Aoife Clancy hails from Tipperary, Ireland, where her musical career began at an
early age. She is the daughter of Bobby Clancy; a member of the legendary Clancy
Brothers Irish Folk Band. Robbie O’Connell was born in Waterford, Ireland and
was also a member of the Clancy Brothers Group. These world renowned artists
will perform traditional Irish songs, ballads and contemporary folk music.
Doors open
at the Seamens Inne March 24th at 7:00 PM. Ticket prices are $20 and
a Lite Fare will be available. Tickets are available at Puritan & Genesta
Natural Foods or by contacting Christine Cooney at 860-536-3537. Depending on
capacity, tickets may also be available at the door.
On Sunday
March 25th, the
4th Annual Mystic St. Patrick’s
Parade will kick off at 1:00 PM sharp. Over 100 marching units and
fourteen marching bands will perform along the parade route from Mystic Seaport
Museum to the Mystic Art Association. This year’s parade will be the host to no
less than 8 Pipe Bands, more than any other parade in the state! In addition to
these excellent musicians, we’re expecting 1,000 plus marchers including Irish
Step Dancers, Fife & Drum Units, Military Drill Teams and Honor Guard Units from
several local organizations, Drum & Bugle Corps, and high school marching bands.
In addition to the musical units, the parade will also feature Classic Antique
Cars, High-Tech Firefighting Equipment, Police Units, Scout Troops, and colorful
floats designed and fabricated by area businesses.
The Grand Marshal this year will be
John J. Kelley, a local resident,
businessman and winner of the 1957 Boston Marathon. In addition, the board has
decided to induct an honorary Grand Marshal for the parade as well as Grand
Marshal. This year’s honorary Grand Marshal will be a Stonington resident and
local businesswoman, the late Nonie Irey.
These gala
events are organized by the Mystic Irish Parade Foundation, a consortium of
local residents, businesspeople and volunteers who have joined ranks to make
these annual events a community-wide cultural tradition. The parade is funded by
proceeds from these events, the generosity of local business sponsorships and
individual sale of raffle tickets. Surplus funds are donated to local charities.
Last years donations included the
Southeastern CT Women’s Center, Mystic Flag Pole Committee, Boy Scouts of
America, Groton and Stonington Police Benevolent Associations and Centro de la
Communidad of New London.
Major event
sponsors for the 4th Annual Mystic St. Patrick’s Parade include Levine
Distributors, AG Edwards, F&F Distributors, 106.5 WBMW and Jammin’ 107.7. For
more information, or to become a volunteer, please visit our website @
www.mysticirishparade.org.
3rd Annual Naturally Irish Dinner, March 10th, 2007.
Mystic St. Patrick's Parade Eve Concert, March 24th, 2007
4th Annual
Mystic
St. Patrick’s
Parade
Mystic Connecticut will host a Saint Patrick Parade on March 25th starting
at 2PM in the afternoon. Over 650 marchers scheduled to participate
and for us it is a first for our corner of Connecticut. Everyone is
cordially invited to attended. Please note arrive early as parking
is anticipated to be a problem. The parade accessible off Interstate 95
at either exit 89 or 90. Just follow the signs for directions.
STARTING POINT - SOUTH LOT
MYSTIC SEAPORT
ENDING POINT – WATER STREET DOWNTOWN MYSTIC
This year's parade promises to
be big and wonderful for our first annual parade. A team made up of
residents and businessmen and community volunteers has come together to make
the Mystic St. Patrick’s Parade a community effort and a really BIG DEAL!
The committee members have worked tirelessly throughout the year to bring
this parade about.
This year we anticipate 40 units, including at least 16 bands, military
units, pipes & drums, floats, children, Irish dancers, high tech
firefighting equipment, police units, drill teams, dogs, horses, antique
cars and a Grand Marshall. This first year is going to be a BIG DEAL. We
anticipate that we will have to limit registration to 50 marching units and
10 bands.
Mystic has always been strongly associated with the Irish. The thriving
village of Mystic has many well established Irish businessmen, tradesmen and
residents.
|
|
