The 42nd annual Brooklyn St. Patrick’s Day Parade brought Irish pride to Park Slope on the afternoon of Sunday, March 19, as marchers stepped off from 15th Street and Prospect Park West.
After a 9 a.m. mass at the Holy Name of Jesus Church, parade goers lined up among the bands and marching units clad in green.
The grand marshal was Farrell’s Bar and Grill’s James Houlihan. Deputy marshals were Rita Lydon-Lenz (United Irish Counties of New York, County Mayo); James O’Leary (Grand Council of United Emerald Societies; Con Edison Emeralds); Julia Ann Dineen (Irish Culture – Buckley School of Irish Dance); Lieutenant Joseph Heegan Jr. (Uniformed Services – FDNY, Ladder Company 149); Alice Casey (Gaelic Sports- NY Young Irelands Camogie Team); Heleana O’Driscoll-Ryan (Public Education-P.S. 10); Mary DiServio (LAOH-Kings County Board, Div 6, Greenpoint); Detective Jerry Galante (Aide-At-Large – NYPD 78th Precinct Community Affairs) and Marc Reilly (AOH-Kings County Board, Div. 12).
The last event before the parade kicked off was a re-dedication ceremony in honor of the heroes and victims of 9/11.