Saturday, March 26, 2022

Girardville Saint Patrick's Day Parade Returns

After a several year break due to COVID-19, the Girardville Saint Patrick's Day Parade returned on Saturday.

The last time there were bagpipers and Hibernians walking the streets of Girardville waving the Irish flag was 2019.

Even with rain in the forecast, organizers were determined to have a parade and the weather wasn't going to stop them.

As Saturday's parade stepped off for the 17th time, mother nature literally threw ever form of weather on parade goers that included rain, snow, cold temperatures, high winds, and graupel, but that didn't damper the spirits of the thousands that celebrated.

The 2022 edition of the parade honored our Country's Veterans that included this year's Grand Marshals, three Girardville natives, Rev. Lt. Col. Edward Coyle, U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Raymond Wayne and U.S. Navy Capt. Edward Clark.

The parade was split into 4 divisions that totaled over 70 units.

Units were judged in the area of St. Joseph's Church where Philip Groody and Philip McCarthey announced and commentated the parade.

While the parade did not attract the 10's of the thousands as years ago, the spirit of the parade still lives on.