PIG JIG
_______

Atlanta

Hotel Packages

.

_______

_______

________

Welcome to the 124th St. Patrick's Day Parade!
from the 2005 Chairman

THE 124th PARADE IS MOVING BACK TO ITS
ORIGINAL HOME - DOWNTOWN ATLANTA

The 2005 Parade, Atlanta's 124th since 1858, is moving back to our original home. The March 19, 2005 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade will be held in downtown Atlanta. St. Patrick's Festivities will begin Thursday, March 17 and continue through Saturday, March 19th.

This year's parade promises to be even bigger than the wonderful 2004 parade. A team made up of members of the Hibernian Benevolent Society of Atlanta (HBSA), the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), Clan Na nGael, the Fire Emerald Society of Metro Atlanta (FESMA), and Metropolitan Atlanta Police Emerald Society (MAPES) and hundreds of community volunteers has come together to make the traditional Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade a community effort and a really BIG DEAL! The committee members have worked tirelessly throughout the year to bring this parade about.

One newspaper reporter asked why a St. Patrick's Day Parade is relevant in today's world. Part of the answer is the obvious celebration of the Irish Saint Patrick, but there is an even broader import to this celebration. It is the celebration of the success of an immigrant people.    

The Irish left their homeland for a variety of reasons - poverty, fear and hopelessness. Many were transported as prisoners. Rather than finding streets paved with gold, they found slums, prejudice, discrimination and hatred. Saloonkeepers would post a help wanted sign for the most menial of positions with the caveat "No Irish Need Apply". The Irish women worked at the most menial of jobs and in dangerous sweatshops. Slave owners would hire an Irishman to do a dangerous job rather than risk a valuable slave. The Irishman had no value. They were at the "bottom of the food chain".

In spite of the obstacles, these people struggled. They settled in wild places and they took the jobs no one else would take. Today the Irish can count among their past and present numbers successful members in all walks of society. In our country there are U.S. Presidents, Corporate Executives, Policemen, Firemen, Priests and leaders of all types.    

In spite of the odds against them, they struggled, fought and succeeded.

This is a celebration of an immigrant people. It is a celebration of success. It holds out hope to the multitudes coming to our shores and starting out in a new land. The success of the Irish is cause for everyone to celebrate and have hope for the future.

St. Patrick's Day is not just an Irish Celebration. It is a celebration for all people in our nation. We are all immigrants. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Ed Moran, Chairman
2005 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade