HUNTSVILLE – Strike up the band because the leprechauns are on the move, planning one of Huntsville’s oldest traditions, the 46th annual Ellen McAnelly Memorial St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Set for March 11 at 11 a.m. in downtown Huntsville, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is organized by the Irish Society of North Alabama and named after Ellen McAnelly, Huntsville’s first Irish restauranteur and St. Patrick’s Day Parade founder.
“We are so excited to continue Ellen McAnelly’s tradition of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Huntsville” said John Samples, president of the Irish Society of North Alabama. “This parade has a special history and has grown from being known as the smallest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the U.S. in 1977, to be one of the area’s largest parades.”
It is still early, and organizers are still looking for groups to join the parade, as well as additional sponsors who make it possible to keep the event free for participants and attendees.
Presented by Straight to Ale Brewing, the parade welcomes a variety of groups including clubs, families, organizations, businesses, and sports teams.
Click here to register for the parade. The deadline is Monday, February 20th.
There is a new and updated parade route this year (shown below), and for the first time, it will not loop, so Huntsville shuttles will provide rides back to the route starting point if needed.
The parade begins at Lot K on the corner of Woodson Street and Holmes Avenue and runs through downtown Huntsville.
The parade stops briefly at St. Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church on Jefferson Street for the annual blessing of the parade and presentation of the Irish and American flags.
The parade heads south on Jefferson Street around Downtown Square and north on Washington Street to Meridian Street, ending in the parking lot near the old lumberyard.
Click here to download a route map.
“We are very thankful for the Huntsville community and all of the support from the City of Huntsville, our sponsors, volunteers, and participants to bring what is known as a fun filled, community centered parade,” Samples said.
This year’s parade Grand Marshal is Máirtín Ó Muilleoir of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Abby Amis, a junior at Auburn University, is the 2023 Parade Queen.
Amis was Parade Queen in 2020, but the parade was canceled due to COVID.
Ó Muilleoir is owner of Belfast Media Group and publishes the weekly newspaper, The Irish Echo in the United States.
He visited Huntsville and Birmingham last year to write articles about the Alabama civil rights movement, which inspired the civil rights movement in Northern Ireland, ultimately leading to Good Friday and peace in the country.
Ó Muilleoir wrote about the Huntsville community because he was impressed with the Alabama Irish community and liked how Huntsville promoted Irish heritage, the parade being a big part of that.
“We are honored to welcome Máirtín Ó Muilleoir to Huntsville for this year’s parade” said Lisa Bollinger, parade director. “Máirtín is a true advocate of Irish culture and civil rights. His history with the city of Belfast is one of dedication to bring disparate groups together demonstrating that a community is stronger if it embraces all within the community.
“Ellen founded this parade to do that – to be proud of our Irish heritage while bringing the community together to be a part of the parade and festivities.”
Ó Muilleoir said being the Grand Marshall was a great honor.
“I congratulate the Irish community of the great city of Huntsville for flying the flag for Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day and for building golden bridges of commerce, culture and community between Alabama and Ireland.”
Groups, businesses, organizations and families interested in either being part of the parade or a parade sponsor should contact Bollinger at 256-468-5612.
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