West Hudson St. Patrick’s Parade Returns 3/15/2026 for 50th Year

The United Irish Associations of West Hudson will celebrate a major milestone this year when its 50th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade marches through Harrison, East Newark, and Kearny on Sunday, March 15, 2026. The parade has long been one of the region’s most anticipated cultural celebrations, honoring Irish heritage while bringing together thousands of residents from throughout the West Hudson communities.

The parade will assemble along North and South 3rd Street at Harrison Avenue in Harrison before stepping off at 1 p.m. Marchers will head east along Harrison Avenue, passing Harrison Town Hall at 318 Harrison Avenue, before turning onto North Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard. The procession will continue through East Newark and ultimately conclude in front of Kearny Town Hall at 402 Kearny Avenue in Kearny.

As part of a cherished local tradition, volunteers will once again paint a green line along the parade route, symbolizing the path of celebration and helping guide marchers through the three West Hudson communities. The green line has become a familiar sight each year, marking the route for spectators and participants alike.

Grand Marshal Kevin Quinn Celebrates Two Milestones

Leading the parade this year as Grand Marshal is Kevin Quinn, who is marking not only the parade’s 50th anniversary, but also 30 years as president of the United Irish Associations of West Hudson.

Quinn was born into an Irish-Scottish American family to parents Patricia and Rocky Quinn. Raised alongside his brother Dennis and sister Patti Rowe, Quinn attended St. Cecilia Grammar School and later Queen of Peace High School in North Arlington, before continuing his education at SUNY Albany. In 1986, he married Michele Anne Corey-Quinn, and together they later welcomed their son, Patrick Liam Quinn.

Over the decades, Quinn has been deeply involved with the United Irish organization, serving in multiple roles, including delegate, treasurer, and parade coordinator, before assuming the presidency in 1996, a position he has held ever since. His leadership has helped guide the organization through decades of parades and cultural celebrations honoring Irish heritage in the West Hudson region.

Beyond the parade organization, Quinn has also been active throughout the community. He spent many years coaching Kearny Little League and Hudson CYO basketball, helping mentor young athletes. He also served as president of the Montclair Police Athletic League and remains a member of its executive board.

Professionally, Quinn enjoyed a 27-year career at Verizon, where he managed large teams and worked on the development of emerging telecommunications technologies before retiring in 2023.

Deputy Grand Marshal Michael Patrick Conlon

One of this year’s Deputy Grand Marshals is Michael Patrick Conlon, whose family roots trace back to Ireland. His paternal great-great-grandparents emigrated from County Mayo, while his maternal ancestors came from County Kilkenny, eventually settling in Harrison and Newark.

Conlon was born at Clara Maass Hospital in Belleville and raised in Harrison. He attended Holy Cross School and later Queen of Peace High School, eventually graduating from Rutgers University, where he met his wife, Martha Moran.

Conlon built a distinguished career in federal law enforcement, beginning in 1998 with the former Immigration and Naturalization Service and later serving as a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations. His assignments took him to New York City, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Newark, and even overseas to Dubai and Doha. He ultimately retired as an Assistant Special Agent in Charge.

Today, he serves as Vice President of Safety and Security for Extended Stay America, overseeing security operations for more than 550 hotels across 44 states.

A long-time supporter of Irish culture, Conlon has been a bagpiper with the St. Columcille United Gaelic Pipe Band and previously with the MacMillan United Pipe Band. He also founded the Homeland Security Investigations Pipe Band, which performs at official Department of Homeland Security ceremonies. His dedication to Irish culture and the parade is longstanding—he served nearly 20 years on the parade committee and was parade coordinator from 2006 to 2016.

Deputy Grand Marshal Ellen McGirr-Murray

Joining Conlon as Deputy Grand Marshal is Ellen McGirr-Murray, a lifelong Harrison resident with deep ties to the community and Irish organizations in the region.

Born at West Hudson Hospital in Kearny, McGirr-Murray grew up in Harrison alongside her siblings and extended family. She attended Holy Cross School, Washington Middle School, and graduated from Harrison High School.

She later attended Katherine Gibbs School in Upper Montclair, graduating as valedictorian in 1985, and built a successful career working for corporate executives across New Jersey. Later in life, she returned to school at the RETS Institute, earning the Highest Academic Achievement Award in 2004 and beginning a second career in medical assisting, working in specialties including orthopedics, pulmonology, dermatology, and primary care.

McGirr-Murray and her husband, John Murray, raised three children—Lauren, Andrew, and Adam—and she is now the proud grandmother of four.

Her community involvement has been extensive. She has been a member of the Harrison/East Newark Elks Ladies Auxiliary since 1993, later joining the Elks Lodge itself when women were permitted membership. She also became involved with the Irish American Ladies Auxiliary of Kearny in 2003.

Within the United Irish organization, McGirr-Murray served as a trustee beginning in 2005 and volunteered for numerous fundraising and parade activities. She eventually became Parade Adjutant and Coordinator, making history as the first woman ever to hold that position. After five years, she mentored the next generation of leadership, helping prepare current Parade Adjutant Brian Wiltrout.

A Community Celebration

The parade traditionally features dozens of community groups, bands, cultural organizations, and civic leaders from across the region. Among the many organizations that have participated in past parades are:

• St. Columcille United Gaelic Pipe Band
• San Xoan Bagpipe Band of Galicia, Spain
• East Newark Volunteer Firefighters
• Harrison Fire Department
• Girl Scouts Unit 14
• Kearny Boy Scouts Troop 305
• Kearny Belleville Elks Lodge
• West Hudson Arts & Theatre Company (WHAT Co.)
• Kearny Rotary
• Fighting Irishman of the American Revolution
• Lupus Awareness groups
• North Arlington Mayor David Pronti and Council
• Kearny ACP Portuguese Club
• Peruvian Civic Association of New Jersey
• VFW Wilson Gugelman Post 1302
• The Cycling Murrays
• Miss New Jersey
• Kardinals Ice Hockey
• Kearny Crew Teams
• Garden State Roller Derby
• Copestone-Ophir Lodge 108
• Kearny High School Band
• Harrison High School Band
• North Arlington Fire Department
• United Irish Associations of West Hudson

Possible Traffic Impacts With Stadium Event

This year’s parade will coincide with another major international sporting event taking place in Harrison.

On March 14 and March 15, 2026, the HSBC SVNS international rugby tournament will be held at Sports Illustrated Stadium. The HSBC SVNS series is a global competition organized by World Rugby, featuring national teams competing in the fast-paced rugby sevens format, which features seven players per team and emphasizes speed, skill, and open play.

The Sunday portion of the tournament begins at 11 a.m., while the St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off at 1 p.m., meaning the two events will overlap for several hours.

Although the parade route travels north along Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard and does not pass the stadium, which sits south of the parade route, the two events could still generate significant traffic and parking congestion throughout Harrison as thousands of spectators attend both events.

Local officials typically coordinate road closures and traffic control measures during the parade, and motorists traveling through Harrison and neighboring communities should plan accordingly.

Celebrating 50 Years of Tradition

For half a century, the United Irish Associations of West Hudson St. Patrick’s Day Parade has served as a celebration of Irish culture and community pride in the region. What began as a local tradition has grown into a major annual event drawing spectators from across Hudson and neighboring counties.

As the parade marks its 50th anniversary in 2026, organizers say the event continues to symbolize the enduring ties between the communities of Harrison, East Newark, and Kearny, while honoring the Irish heritage that has long been part of West Hudson’s history.

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