BY JOHN E. USALIS
GIRARDVILLE — Scheduling conflicts for a St. Patrick’s Day parade later in 2021 have led organizers to cancel the event this year.
After pushing the original March 27 date off because of the pandemic, organizers were considering dates as late as September, but “we had too much of a conflict,” said Joseph J. Wayne, parade committee chairman and president of the Girardville Ancient Order of Hibernians Jack Kehoe Division No. 1, the parade sponsor.
“We thought about Sept. 11, but because of the (20th) anniversary of the Twin Towers … we found a lot of the bands won’t be able to make it, and I believe the firefighters convention is that week,” Wayne said.
He said other dates were considered, one being Sept. 25, but an Irish festival is being held in New Jersey that would involve most of the bands that come to Girardville.
“We decided that if we spend all the money in September and have a not-that-great of a parade, we might as raise the money for March,” he said. “Let’s just let it go and hold it in March.”
The 2022 version is set for noon Saturday, March 26.
This marks the second year that the popular event has been canceled because of the pandemic.
Money raised for the 2020 parade will go to fund the 2022 event, and additional donations and volunteers are welcome, Wayne said.
“Letters are going out to all of the bands and vendors that we’re going to do it the week after St. Patrick’s Day as we always do,” he said.
For more information, visit girardvilleirishparade.com or see “Annual Girardville St. Patrick’s Day Parade” on Facebook.
Contact the writer: jusalis@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6023
