On Saturday March 24th, the Jack Kehoe Division #1 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians will host the…
9th Annual Girardville St. Patrick’s Day Parade
This memorable event will begin at 12 NOON, and will be held RAIN OR SHINE.
St. Patrick’s Day is commonly known as a day to celebrate the Irish heritage. This year’s parade hopes to involve the entire Girardville community, as well as our friends and neighbors from throughout Pennsylvania!
Our Committee is proud to announce that this year, we are honoring “The Patches of Northern Schuylkill County”, which have always been a very cherished part of the Irish Heritage.
We also are proud to announce that the Grand Marshals for this year’s parade will be Fred & Mary Rabbits. They own and operate Alexandria’s Salon in Frackville. They have supported our parade, in many ways, from the very start. Everyone may know Fred as the “Official Leprecaun” of the Jack Kehoe Division. They both have helped financially and “hands on” with our parade since its inception. They are “Patchies”, as they live in Homesville, just outside of Girardville Borough. They are both involved in many other community organizations and events throughout Schuylkill County.
The events of the weekend will “kick-off” with the 9TH Annual St. Patrick’s Day DECORATING CONTEST
To be held during the early evening hours of FRIDAY MARCH 23rd
All residents of the Borough of Girardville, as well as the immediate adjacent communities of Homesville, Powdermill, Connerton, Wildcat, Preston Hill, and Rappahannock, are invited to take part by decorating their homes or businesses in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day. Out-of-Town judges will judge all homes/ businesses.
The Jack Kehoe Division #1 of the AOH is sponsoring the DECORATING CONTEST. Show your Irish spirit and celebrate the 9TH Annual Parade!
Parade day kicks off with the Irish themed Mass, which will be celebrated in St. Joseph’s Church at 10:00am.
In this, our 9TH Annual Parade, 35 AWARDS will be presented in various categories.
AWARDS will be presented to the winners shortly after the conclusion of the parade. AWARDS CEREMONY will be held outside of Jack Kehoe’s Original Hibernian House, located at the corner of Beech and Line Streets in the Borough. Winners of the Decorating Contest will also be announced during the ceremony.
The OFFICIAL COMMEMORATIVE PROGRAM of the 9th Annual Girardville St. Patrick’s Day Parade will soon be available. This program includes the Ninth in a SERIES of articles on the History of Girardville, Pa. These stories of Girardville’s history will be continued every year in the Parade Program, and contains interesting facts about Girardville and the surrounding area. This year, the program features “The Patches”, which is a very special part of both Irish and Girardville History. This year’s Commemorative Program is a very special edition.
PROGRAMS will be available at various local businesses in the Girardville area, as well as the Hibernian House at Beech and Line Streets in the Borough. Copies of the Program, along with official Parade T-Shirts, will also be available along the Parade route, from members of the AOH Jack Kehoe Division, who will be throughout town on the day of the parade. Copies of this Commemorative Program and the Official Parade T-Shirts are only ($10) ten dollars each! Get your copy and your shirt today!
On Parade day, members of the Jack Kehoe Division will be at all entrances of the Borough, taking donations towards the 9th Annual Parade. They will also canvass the Borough and the surrounding area on Sunday March 04, 2012 starting at 1:00pm. Anyone wishing to contribute towards the parade can contact CHAIRMAN McNelis or any other member of the parade committee. Everyone’s support is appreciated by the Jack Kehoe Division, in order to keep this tradition alive and well.
Non-profit groups such as schools, churches, fire companies and other community groups will provide various food items, baked goods, and Irish novelties/souvenirs for sale, all along the Parade Route and throughout the Borough of Girardville. Girard Hose Company will be serving food, beer and non-alcoholic beverages beginning at 8:00am. They will also provide live entertainment in their fire hall. Please support your friends and neighbors of the Girardville community.
Irish ENTERTAINMENT will be plentiful on Parade day! Establishments throughout the Borough will offer various forms of Irish music to be enjoyed by all! From acoustic performers to DJ’s there is something for everyone! The famous “Irish Lads” will be performing at the 2nd Street Pub after the parade. The Hibernian House, the Top Cat Café, Girard Hose Company, The Nowhere Bar, Marrone’s Restaurant and others, will provide Irish music throughout the day…and all within walking distance of each other! Bagpipe Bands will also perform throughout the borough after the parade. It is sure to be a GRAND time!
The Parade Committee has again this year named Yuengling as the Official Beverage of this year’s parade.
Any person, group or business interested in taking part in this parade can obtain a registration form by calling the Parade Information Number at (570) 773-6218, OR by emailing the Parade Chairman at mouche4541@verizon.net
Deadline for all Parade registrations is March 18th.
John P. “Mouche” McNelis Parade Chairman
9th Annual Girardville St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2012
This weekend, the social hall in the Girardville municipal building will be a rich display of Christmas trees, nutcrackers, wreaths and more during the first "Deck the Halls" celebration.
