Girardville Prepares for 12th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade; Parade Lineup

The 12th Annual Girardville St. Patrick's Day Parade will commence starting at 12 Noon on Saturday, March 21st. The parade is sponsored every year by the Girardville Parade Committee. The 2015 parade is dedicated to the Coal Region Area High School Athletes and winningest coaches. The parade will also continue to salute the Irish Heritage of Girardville and the rest of the Hard Coal Region Area. The President of the Jack Kehoe Division #1, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Joseph Wayne continues with the duty of Parade Chairman of this year’s parade. Parade Manager Stephen Barrett remains as the parade’s planer and still overlooks the parade operations. The parade committee promised that this year’s parade will have over hundred entries and will feature a new pipe and drum band from Eastern Pennsylvania. The Celtic United Pipe and Drum Band will be making it first trip to Girardville from Windgap, Pa.

The retired Mahanoy Area Coach Mickey Holland will be one of the parade’s grand marshals of this year’s parade. The retired sports newspaper reporter Sam Matta will be honored as the second parade grand marshal. Mahanoy Area High School Band will be in the first division dedicated to the local coaches and athletes. The First Division will also feature high school floats from North Schuylkill and Shenandoah Valley carrying their championship winning sports teams. Marching units of alumni and student groups will accompany their floats in the parade. The Parade Committee likes to thank all of the school districts for allowing their school’s involvement with this year’s parade.

Ancient Order of Hibernian marching units from throughout Pennsylvania have registered to attend the parade. A number of new Ancient Order of Hibernian Divisions from Philadelphia will have their first appearance at this year’s parade. String bands and local musical bands will march or ride on floats in the parade. A number of floats, fire trucks and marching units from local civic groups will also be part of the four division long parade.

The day’s events will start with a Roman Catholic Mass at 10:00 AM at St. Joseph's Church, 211 W. Main Street, in Girardville. Food and souvenirs will be for sale by vendors at several locations throughout the town. An award ceremony will take place after the parade to present the winners with their trophies. Irish entertainment, adult beverages, and the award ceremony can be found at the historical Hibernian House throughout the day.

The parade is a website will continue to used for parade registration and to help provide information to the public about the parade. The new parade t-shirt and “parade sponsor pin” featuring a “salute to our Coal Region Athletes and Coaches ” will be for sale throughout town on parade day. The official parade souvenirs will raise funds to help pay for the increasing cost of bag pipe bands. More information about the special events, the official “Parade Gear” and how you can support the parade can be found on the parade’s website www.Girardvilleirishparade.com .

Late entries can register up until 11:30 AM the morning of the parade at the Girardville Borough Hall. Plan to get into town early because parking will be at a premium and the town will be closed to traffic after 10:00 AM. The Girardville Mayor also warns all parade spectators that there will be a strong law enforcement presence at this year’s parade and all laws will be enforced. Parade Participants and spectators can receive additional parade information at the parade website, www.Girardvilleirishparade.com. Maps of the parade route, the parade’s safety and security policies and special activities that are planned on parade day can be found at the parade website.


Stephen Barrett, Parade Manager
Joseph Wayne, Parade Chairman
2015 Girardville St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee



12th ANNUAL GIRARDVILLE PARADE LINEUP
MARCH 21, 2015 12PM

DIVISION ONE1. Girardville Police Car w/ Mayor
2. Schuylkill County Sherriff – Joseph Groody
3. Frackville American Legion Honor Guard
4. Hawk Mountain Highlanders Pipe and Drum
5. Deputy Consulate General Mrs. Barbara Jones
6. Jack Kehoe Division #1, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Girardville
7. Daughter of Erin Division #18, Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Girardville
8. Senior Members of Jack Kehoe Division #1, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Girardville
9. Patrick Dormer Division #32, Ancient Order of Hibernians, St Clair
10. John F. Kennedy Division #2, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Pottsville
11. John F. Kennedy Division #2, Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Inc., Pottsville
12. Cass Township Division #3, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Cass Township
13. Callaghan Family
14. Heckscherville Clover Hose Fire Company Engine 263
15. Upper Schuylkill Marching Band
16. Pennsylvania 33rd Lieutenant Governor Michael Stack
17. Schuylkill County Commissioners
18. Schuylkill County Democratic Party
19. Schuylkill County District Attorney Christine Holman
20. Schuylkill County Republican Party
21. Mahanoy Area Alumni & High School Band
22. Grand Marshal Mickey Holland
23. Mahanoy Area High School Booster Float
24. Mahanoy Area High School Basketball Float
25. Mahanoy Area High School Marchers
26. Grand Marshal Sam Matta
27. Shenandoah Valley High School Girls Basketball Team
28. Shenandoah Valley High School Marchers
29. Brian Boru Pipe and Drum Band
30. North Schuylkill High School Football Team
31. North Schuylkill High School Girls Basket Ball Team
32. North Schuylkill High School Student Marchers with Mascot
33. Ashland Black Diamond Youth Football
34. Mc Cann School Car
35. MCA Area Think Big Dance Marathon Committee
36. Jungle Gym Float

DIVISION TWO
1. Ceol Mor Pipe & Drum Band
2. Girardville Ambulance St Patrick Float
3. Girard Hose Engine 45-11
4. Girard Hose Engine 45-71
5. Schuylkill County Fair Royalty
6. The Victorian High Wheelers
7. Humane Mahanoy City- Engine 451
8. Rajah Shrine Clowns
9. Hall’s Nowhere Saloon Pickup Truck
10. Jack Bergen Harley Davidson Motorcycle
11. The Troubles Band
12. Locust Gap Fire Company Engine 25
13. Shenandoah Heights Fire Company Engine
14. Shenandoah Heights Fire Company Brush Truck
15. Shenandoah Polish American Fire Company

DIVISION THREE1. Mackay Pipe & Drum Band
2. St. Brendan Division #1, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Berks County
3. Travelers Protective Association Post Q (TPA) - Mahanoy City
4. New Beginnings Church Float, Ashland
5. Hillside SPCA Marchers
6. Rajah Mounted Shrine Band
7. Forks of the Delaware Tin Lizzies
8. T102 Prize Mobile
9. Schuylkill Historical Fire Society Fire Truck - 1971 Mack CF Pumper
10. Schuylkill Historical Fire Society Fire Truck - SHFS 1973 Mack Tele squirt
11. Schuylkill Historical Fire Society Fire Truck - 1948 Mack Sedan Pumper
12. Penn Dixie Band
13. AJ Limo Jolly Trolley
14. Celtic United Pipe and Drum Band
15. Clover Hose Fire Company of Mount Carmel, Engine 3
16. Filthy Mc Nasty Irish Brigade
17. North East Variety Band
18. Minersville Fire Rescue Tower 519
19. Minersville Fire Rescue Engine 528

DIVISION FOUR1. Irish Thunder Pipe and Drum Band, Montgomery County
2. Montgomery County, Men and Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Montgomery County
3. Joseph Patrick Division #61, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Philadelphia
4. Thomas Lally Division #25, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Philadelphia
5. AOH/LOAH 87 Port Richmond
6. Zembo Mounted Patrol
7. Leiby’s Carriage Service – Yuengling Beer Wagon
8. Leiby’s Carriage Service - Heisler Milk Wagon
9. West End Fire Company - St Clair Engine 705
10. West End Fire Company - St Clair Brush 705
11. East Norwegian Township Fire Company Tanker 8-31
12. East Norwegian Township Fire Company Brush 8-41

DIVISION FIVE1. Nittany Lion Highland Pipe and Drum Band
2. Allegheny County, Men and Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Pittsburgh
3. Thomas Sullivan Funeral Home Float – Another Side Band
4. Mahanoy City Borough and Mahanoy Area Historical Society 1964 Plymouth
5. Schuylkill Motorcycle Club
6. Schuylkill Historical Fire Society Fire Truck – 1941 Diamond T Pumper
7. Schuylkill Historical Fire Society Fire Truck – 1947 Maxim Pumper
8. Keystone Car Club Classic Cars
9. Keystone Car Club Classic Car
10. Keystone Car Club Classic Car
11. Keystone Car Club Classic Car
12. Keystone Car Club Classic Car
13. Keystone Car Club Classic Car
14. Keystone Car Club Classic Car
15. Keystone Car Club Classic Car
16. Keystone Car Club Classic Car
17. Keystone Car Club Classic Car
18. Schuylkill Historical Fire Society Fire – 1975 International Carmar Pumper
19. Schuylkill Historical Fire Society Fire Truck – 1976 Hahn Pumper