2010
Atlanta Saint Patrick's Day Parade
Saturday, March 13th, 2010
-- 12 NOON
Atlanta's Parade
Begins
Saturday, March 13th, 2010 at 12:00 PM
In Downtown Atlanta
- Marchers Arrive 11:00 AM -
2010 will be the
largest, best attended St. Patrick's Parade since the first Atlanta St.
Patrick's Parade held 151 years ago in 1858. Again this year the parade ends
at Fabulous Underground Atlanta with Vendors, Food and FREE Entertainment,
Music & Dancing.
The 2010 Atlanta
St. Patrick's Parade will have over 200 units, including floats, bands of
every kind, military units, Bagpipe & Drum Corps, thousands of children (OUR
REASON FOR CELEBRATING), Irish dancers, clowns, high tech firefighting
equipment, police units, drill teams, dogs, horses, antique cars,
dignitaries from Ireland, our own Government leaders, Celebrity Grand
Marshall Ronald McDonald and Honorary Marshal Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin
and Grand Marshal Neville Isdell, CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta's
best-know corporate partner.
This year is going
to be a much BIGGER DEAL than last year's record breaking parade & festival.
We expect to greatly exceed the 250,000+ crowd that attended in 2006. Many
dignitaries and 2008 participants are already on board for 2010.
Atlanta has always
been strongly associated with the Irish. The thriving city of Atlanta had
many well established Irish businessmen, tradesmen and farmers at a time
when some cities still restricted immigration and settlement of the
Irish. At one time all five of Atlanta's City Councilmen were Irish.
Atlanta's fire department attracted a large number of Irish.
The Irish have
always been an integral part of the City. The Hibernian Benevolent Society
of Atlanta was founded in 1856 to help the newest wave of immigrating Irish.
An Irish priest, Father O'Reilly, saved the churches and other parts of
Atlanta from General Sherman's armies during the Civil War. A huge number of
the Southern defenders were Irish, as were a great percentage of the
Northern troops.
Margaret Mitchell,
famed author of Gone With The Wind, wrote about her Atlanta Irish ancestors.
Her Great Aunts, the Fitzgeralds, lived in Clayton County at a place called
Rural Home. This was the place that became Tara in the novel. Anywhere you
look, the Irish have been here playing an important role.
The phenomenal
success of River Dance has spurred a resurgence of interest in all things
Irish. There has been a phenomenal surge in Irish Dance schools and Irish
Dance competitions. Irish movies and Irish music groups are everywhere!
In addition to the
“natives”, a huge migration from the traditional northern Irish cities has
brought thousands of Irish and their descendants to booming Atlanta. These
newer residents are accustomed to St. Patrick’s Day festivities and
faithfully attend the parade and other functions.
-
Almost 40% of Georgians claim Irish heritage.
-
More than 1,000,000 Atlanta residents are of Irish descent.
-
Atlanta ranks as the 7th largest “Irish City” in North America.
This will definitely be the largest, best publicized St.
Patrick's Parade since the first such event 147 years ago and we have
returned to the site of the first St. Patrick's Parade in 1858 - Downtown
Atlanta.
This year we anticipate over 250 units, including at least
28 major floats, bands of every kind, military units, pipes & drums,
hundreds of children, Irish dancers, clowns, high tech firefighting
equipment, police units, drill teams, dogs, horses, antique cars,
dignitaries from Ireland, our own community leaders and a nationally known
Grand Marshall.
This year is going to be an even BIGGER DEAL than last
year's spectacular success. We anticipate that we will have to limit
registration to 250 marching units and 20 bands. Many dignitaries and 2004
participants have already signed up for 2006.
Atlanta has always been strongly associated with the Irish.
The thriving city of Atlanta had many well established Irish businessmen,
tradesmen and farmers at a time when some cities still restricted
immigration and settlement of the Irish. At one time all five of Atlanta's
City Councilmen were Irish. Atlanta's fire department attracted a large
number of Irish.
The Irish have always been an integral part of the City. The
Hibernian Benevolent Society of Atlanta was founded in 1856 to help the
newest wave of immigrating Irish. An Irish priest, Father O'Reilly, saved
the churches and other parts of Atlanta from General Sherman's armies during
the Civil War. A huge number of the Southern defenders were Irish, as were a
great percentage of the Northern troops.
Margaret Mitchell, famed author of Gone With The Wind, wrote
about her Atlanta Irish ancestors. Her Great Aunts, the Fitzgeralds, lived
in Clayton County at a place called Rural Home. This was the place that
became Tara in the novel. Anywhere you look, the Irish have been here
playing an important role.
The phenomenal success of River Dance has spurred a
resurgence of interest in all things Irish. There has been a phenomenal
surge in Irish Dance schools and Irish Dance competitions. Irish movies and
Irish music groups are everywhere!
In addition to the “natives”, a huge migration from the
traditional northern Irish cities has brought thousands of Irish and their
descendants to booming Atlanta. These newer residents are accustomed to St.
Patrick’s Day festivities and faithfully attend the parade and other
functions.
-
Almost 30% of Georgians claim Irish heritage.
-
More than 750,000 Atlanta residents are of Irish descent.
-
Atlanta ranks as the 7th largest “Irish City” in North
America.
It's “IN” to be Irish in today’s dynamic times. Join us for
a great day and for a grand time as we celebrate Atlanta and her Irish
heritage.
VISIT OUR FRIENDS AT THE OFFICIAL SITE:
http://www.stpatsparadeatlanta.com/
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