Difference between revisions of "St Patrick's Parade and Celebration"

Revision as of 21:48, 5 November 2013

The history of the parade is a celebration of the pride in the heritage the Irish people took with them when they came to settle in America from Ireland. The first St. Patrick's Parade in Bethpage took place in 1992. This parade and celebration has special significance to the people of Bethpage as friend and neighbor, Cornelius (Connie) Doolan, was chosen to lead the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade up 5th Avenue in New York City as the Grand Marshall. This pride spilled over in the Bethpage Community when prominent members of our community, Jim Leddy and John Coumatas, of the Central Park Inn (presently known as B. K. Sweeney's), discussed the possibility to bring the same pride demonstrated on 5th Avenue, New York City to Broadway, Bethpage. The idea took form and grew. Anne, wife of Connie, suggested that the parade should take place after a mass at St. Martin of Tours Church on Central Avenue. The same way it starts off after a mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City.

Now that the parade and celebration was agreed upon, a committee was formed to ensure the success of the events. The people responsible were: Jim Leddy, Syl Nugent, Bill McConnell, Michael Horan, John O'Hara, Cathy Bretton, and John Coumatas. Now, proudly on March 1, 1992, after the 12:30 Mass, celebrated by Rev. George Keaveney, the first St. Patrick's Parade stepped off and marched down Central Avenue to Burkhard Street on to Broadway proudly passed the reviewing stand.

The subsequent years many prominent residents lent their expertise and time to the continuation of this event. They are: Jack and Mary McCaffrey, Eileen Horan, Maureen Minnet, Patricia Asterita, Kevin Connors, Francis Looney, Bill McCabe, Mary Ann McGrath, Maureen O'Brien, John Joyce and many others. Without their dedication there would be no parade.

Since the first St. Patrick Parade, led by our first Grand Marshal, Cornelius (Connie) Doolan, in 1992, Bethpage has continued the tradition with the following distinguished Grand Marshals: 1993- Rev. George Keaveney, 1994 - Jack McCaffrey, 1995 - Rev. John Murray, 1996 - William Quigley, 1997 - Syl Nugent, 1998 - John O'Hara, 1999 - Francis B. Looney, 2000 - John Sullivan, 2001 - Mary McCaffrey, 2002 - Bill McCabe, 2003 - Mike Horan, 2004 - Frank DeBobes, 2005 - Gary Bretton, 2006 - John Joyce, 2007 - John Coumatas and Kevin McCabe. They all led with great pride reflecting the strong tradition of the values that have been handed down and entrusted to them.

Information provided by Connie Doolan, March 2007

Below information from The BETHPAGE TRIBUNE, February 8-14, 2008

17th Annual Bethpage St. Patrick's Parade will take place on Sunday, March 2, 2008. The St. Patrick's Parade Committee announced the selection of this years Grand Marshals: Cornelius (Connie) Doolan and 4 year old Matthew McGrorty. Matthew has been diagnosed with Hepatoblastoma (a form of liver cancer) and he will lead the marches, with Connie, in a special vehicle a resident of Bethpage offered for this occasion.

The festivities begin at the 1:00 PM Mass at St. Martin of Tours Church. The parade begins at 2:00 PM and will wind its way down Central Avenue to Stewart Avenue, up Burkhardt, ending at the Showmobile which will be on Broadway near Century 21. The reception follows immediately in the cafeteria and auditorium of St. Martin's school.

Below information from The Bethpage Tribune December 25 - January 8, 2009

John Eastwood is selected as 2009 Grand Marshal of St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Below information from the Bethpage Tribune February 13 - 19, 2009

Ryan Siracuse was selected as Junior Grand Marshal of 2009 St. Patrick's Day Parade. .

Below information from the CPHS NEWSLETTER, March, 2010.

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17th, but Bethpage will beat that date with its festivities on March 7th. This year the Bethpage community is proud to have Francis (Frank) Meehan as Grand Marshal of our parade as we march, after the l:00 PM Mass from St. Martin of Tours Church on Central Avenue, down Stewart Avenue, to Burkhardt then to Broadway to the reviewing stand. Francis has called Bethpage home for fifty years with his wife, Kathleen, and their children: Keith, Diane, Sean, Mary Dolores, Dennis, Patricia and Michael. Francis is an active member of St. Martin of Tours Church, Knights of Columbus, Catholic War Veterans, Quartermaster of the Butehorn Brothers Post 4987 VFW, and a member of the Central Park Historical Society.

St. Patrick's Day 2011 - Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano has been named Grand Marshall of the 20th Annual Bethpage St. Patrick's Day Parade to be held on Sunday, March 6, 2011 following the 1:00PM Mass at St. Martin of Tours RC Church. After the Mass the parade through Bethpage followed by speaches and a reception to celebrate the Irish in our community.

St. Patrick's Day 2012 - Eamon Fitzgerald is the Grand Marshall. On the first Sunday of March, March 4th, Bethpage will celebrate St, Patrick at the 1:00 Mass at St. Martin of Tours RC Church. Followed by a parade along Central Avenue, down Stewart Avenue, and up Broadway to the reviewing stand where the marches will be honored, speeches made. Eamon Fitzgerald was born in Ireland and immigrated to America in 1965. He worked for Aer Lingus from which he retired in 1999. Eamon and his wife raised their family in Bethpage and are active members of St. Martin of Tours RC Church.

St. Patrick's Day 2013 - Deacon Thomas Hennessy has been named Grand Marshall of the 22nd Annual Bethpage St. Patrick's Day Parade to be held Sunday, March 3, 2013. Tom has always been proud of his Irish American heritage. Tom has led the New York State Courts Pipes and Drums Band and the Court Officer contingent up 5th Avenue on St. Patrick's Day for over 25 years. For many years he has been the homilist at the annual Bethpage St. Patrick's Day Mass. Information from THE BETHPAGE TRIBUNE January 18, 2012.