United Irish St. Patrick's Day Parade Sun. March 12th 2023 at 1 p.m.

A West Hudson tradition, the United Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade, will be held on Sunday, March 12, 2023, with a 1 p.m. kick off time from Harrison NJ.  Prior to the Parade, a Mass for Peace in Ireland will start at 11 a.m. at the Holy Cross Church in Harrison and run for an hour. Participants in the parade will assemble between 11 a.m. through shortly before the 1 p.m. kickoff time.

This will mark the 2^nd United Irish St. Patrick’s Day parade to kickoff since Covid 19 shut down public events.  The United Irish Association's decision last year to hold the St. Patrick’s Day Parade was well received.  The decision was made as there was the start of a downward trend in Covid transmission rate last year. 

Last year, there was some well deserved friction with the New York Red Bulls who scheduled a season-opening game at the same time as the St.Patrick's Day Parade’s start time. The Red Bulls did not bother to check that a long time West Hudson tradition had been scheduled for the second Sunday of March for almost a century.  It all worked out in the end with the New York Red Bulls changing their opening game start time to 7 p.m. to avoid any impact on the United Irish St. Patrick’s Day parade.  Read more about it here.  The United Irish had moved their parade's start time from 2 p.m. to 1 p.m. to try to avoid some of the impact of the Red Bulls season opener. The parade was so well received that the United Irish have decided to continue a 1 p.m. kickoff this year.

The 2023 Honorees are Grand Marshall Jimmy “Lucky” Lawless, Deputy Grand Marshall Marybeth Kennedy, and Deputy Grand Marshall Lisa Steiner Schalago.

The President of the United Irish of West Hudson, Kevin Quinn and his team made a bold decision last year to hold the parade just post Covid numbers going down and with very cold weather.  If the current trend holds out, the Luck of the Irish will have a sunny day with temperatures in the 50's with a light breeze.

The United Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade will kick off at 1 p.m. from the intersection of Harrison Avenue and Frank E. Rodgers Blvd. in Harrison NJ moving north up Frank E. Rodgers Blvd en route up Kearny Avenue to the Kearny Town Hall. Marchers are advised to follow instructions on where to stage to make the parade an enjoyable mix of local, state, national, and international marchers.

Additional information on the United Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade can be found on the United Irish Facebook page and their website. There are sponsorship opportunities as well for those interested in supporting a long-time West Hudson tradition

What are your thoughts on the United Irish St. Patrick's Day Parade kicking off again since its monumental 2022 Parade?    Let Us Know Your Thoughts on our Community Discussion Board.  If you have not signed up yet to participate you can Sign Up now.