The Washington D.C. 41st Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The 41st annual Washington D.C. St. Patrick’s Day parade was held on Sunday March 11, 2012. Photos are posted under the Photo’s tab and are also available on Facebook.
Theme: Feed the Soul – Nourish the Palate
Grand Marshal: Cathal Armstrong
Gael of the Year: Michael F. Curtin Jr.
Division Marshals: Brian Manion, Nora Reilly, and Patty Simpson
2012 Trophy Winners
Best in Parade – John Barry Ancient Order of Hibernian s, District of Columbia Board
Best Local Band – James Hubert Blake High School, Silver Spring, Maryland
Best Visiting Band – Sapulpa Chieftan Marching Band, Sapulpa, Oklahoma
Best Band – Conestoga High School Marching Pioneers, Berwyn, Pennsylvania
Best Musical Group – District of Columbia Fire Department Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, Washington, D.C.
Best Adult Marching Unit – Veterans of the Battle of Bulge, World War II
Best Marching Unit – Oxon Hill Young Marines, Temple Hills, Maryland
Youth Marching Unit – U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, Alexandria, Virginia
Best ROTC Unit – South Lakes High School Junior ROTC, Reston, Virginia
Best Pipe Unit – Northern Virginia Firefighters Emerald Society
Best Antique Car – 1950 Paddy Wagon Metropolitan Police – Richard Espinosa
Best Antique Fire – 1937 Seagrave Fire Engine – Timothy Jones and Family
Best Dance School – Hunt School of Irish Dancing, Crofton, Maryland
Best Performing Group – The Boyle School of Dance, Alexandria, Virginia
Best Theme – D.C. Central Kitchen, Washington, D.C.
Best Pet Unit – Potomac Valley Irish Wolfhound Club
Always A Pleasure – The McCarthy Clan
Best Novelty Group – Washington Nationals-Screech and Presidential Mascots
Marshal’s Award – Enthusiasm – Washington, D.C. Gaels Sports Club
People’s Choice – Shriners International – Kena 500 Mini Corvettes, Fairfax, Virginia
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March 7 2012: For more information on the honorees and this year’s participants, you can download a copy of the 2012 Parade Program.
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February 27, 2012: Don’t forget to get your Grandstand tickets!
Upcoming Dates to Note:
Saturday March 3: Alexandria Virginia St. Patrick’s Parade
Sunday March 4: Final Fundraiser at the Ireland’s Four Fields, Washington DC 3:30-7pm
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January 30, 2012: Our Grand Marshal Cathal Armstrong and our Gael Michael F Curtin, Jr. joined the crowd at the Ireland’s Four Provinces fundraiser yesterday. The Dirty Pints and Brian Gaffney provided the music, the O’Neill James Dance school wowed with fancy footwork and Colm Dillon presided as auctioneer extraordinaire. Thanks to all for your continued support of the parade.
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January 23, 2012: Lets Dance! This year we have added a ceili to be held on February 4 to our fundraiser schedule. Download the flyer for more details.
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January 19, 2012: Our thanks to the Limerick Pub and James Hoban’s Irish Restaurant and Bar for hosting our first two fundraisers. If you weren’t there, you missed great music, dancers and door prizes. Mark your calendars for Sunday Jan 22 at the Harp and Fiddle and Sunday Jan 29 at Ireland’s Four Provinces.
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January 1, 2012: Happy New Year! The 2012 Parade Fundraiser Schedule is now available. Our first fundraiser will be held January 8, 3:30pm at THE LIMERICK PUB, 11301 Elkin Street, Wheaton, MD 20902; (301) 946-3232. Please join us for live music, happy hour prices and 5$ appetizers.
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December 1, 2011: The St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee of Washington DC is pleased to announce the selection of CATHAL ARMSTRONG as Grand Marshal and MICHAEL F. CURTIN Jr., CEO of DC Food Kitchen as Gael of the Year for the 2012 St Patrick’s Day Parade.
Cathal Armstrong, originally from Dublin, is a Best Mid-Atlantic Chef nominee by the James Beard Foundation in 2011 and Best Chef Award Winner by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington DC. He is the owner of Restaurant Eve, Eamonn’s: A Dublin Chipper, The Majestic, and Virtue Feed and Grain.
The mission of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade of Washington D.C. is to foster the understanding of and celebrate the Irish culture in America. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade has been held annually in Washington D.C. since 1971. This annual affair has grown from what was little more than a leisurely stroll by a few hundred participants on Massachusetts Avenue to a mile long, 2 hour celebration of Irish culture along Constitution Avenue.