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10th Annual Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Honors Patron Saint

UNION--The 10th Annual Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off Saturday, March 11, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. sharp on Morris Avenue in the Township of Union, NJ, as thousands of marchers and spectators gather to celebrate the patron saint of Ireland.

The 2006 Grand Marshal, Kathleen McGinnis-DiChiara of Summit, will lead the march of bagpipe and high school bands, local police and fire department units, floats and many more organizations through the center of Union.

Thanks to the efforts of the Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee and some 17 organizations working behind the scenes year-round, the Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade has grown from drawing 10,000 spectators during its inaugural run in 1997 to an anticipated turn-out of more than 40,000 on-lookers this year. This 2006 Parade is dedicated to all the medical professionals of Union County to honor them for their commitment and extraordinary efforts in service to the community.

In keeping with a parade tradition, officials from Shannon, Ireland will also be marching for the tenth straight year. As guests of the Union County Emerald Society, Shannon Mayor Tony Mulchay and Shannon Town Clerk Tomas MacCornaic will join in the Union County celebration of St. Patrick.

The Union County Emerald Society nominated McGinnis-DiChiara for Grand Marshal and she was elected unanimously by representatives of the parade committee member organizations and parade officers. She is known throughout New Jersey and beyond for her 30 years of work helping the needy as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey located in Hillside.

The Grand Marshal traces her Irish roots back through three grandparents to Counties Cork, Limerick and Waterford. A recipient of a multitude of awards and honors, Kathleen has been recognized by three U.S. presidents, three governors and Pope John Paul II for her efforts in collecting and distributing food to those in need.

“Kathleen displays all the qualities of a selfless and dedicated Irish Catholic who absolutely conveys the true significance of our culture, heritage and honor to the patron saint of Ireland,” said Peter Tierney, the 2006 Parade General Chairman.

According to Parade Adjutant Paul Butterly, who also coordinates parade logistics with the Township of Union, the 2006 Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade will feature high school marching bands from the Township of Union and City of Elizabeth, more than 20 bagpipe bands including the Union County Police & Fire Pipes & Drums and the St. Columcille United Gaelic Pipe Band, Fourth Degree color guards from the Knights of Columbus, non-profit units, local police and fire departments and floats provided by Union Center National Bank, the Center for Hope Hospice and the Garden State Ceili Club. The Union Center National Bank has been the primary corporate sponsor since the parade’s inception.

A Mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Elizabeth at 9 a.m. to begin the day followed by a welcoming reception in the church hall.

The family-friendly festivities kick off at 12 noon at the reviewing stand located at the corner of Morris and Stuyvesant Avenues in Union Center with a warm Irish welcome from parade officials, traditional Irish music and Irish step-dancing. The one-mile parade will begin at 1 p.m. at Commerce Street and Morris Avenue, proceeding east on Morris to Union Center and south onto Stuyvesant Avenue, ending at Roosevelt Avenue.

This year, the parade will also feature a Kid Zone presented by the
Union County Business District. The Kid Zone will feature inflatable rides, walk-around entertainers and activities for the whole family. Located on Stuyvesant and Morris Avenues, this new area of the festivities brings additional amusement for young visitors, as well as the young-at-heart.

The organizations that are represented on the parade committee are based throughout Union, Essex and Middlesex counties and include The John Cryan Association, Thornsticks, The Irish-American Society of the Township of Union, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, the Joseph Nugent Association, the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Elizabeth, the Union County Emerald Society and the Union County Irish-American Association. The parade also receives major support from such sponsors as Union Center National Bank and Peerless Beverage.

For more information about the Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade please visit www.unioncountystpatricksdayparade.com.