2007 Parade Photos - Click Here

2007 will be the largest, best attended St. Patrick's Parade & Festival since the first Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade held 149 years ago in 1858. Again this year the parade ends at Fabulous Underground Atlanta with Vendors, Food and FREE Entertainment, Music & Dancing. 

The 2007 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, 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 2006 participants are already on board for 2007. 

Historically Atlanta is 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 1858 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 significant 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 Metro Atlanta residents claim 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 in 2007. 

	Also Coming to the Parade   Participating Partners: Georgia Restaurant Association Junior League of Atlanta Titanic Savannah College of Art and Design - Atlanta Edelman Atlanta Spirit The Atlanta Hotel Council
Site Last Updated  -  Tuesday, September 04, 2007 04:06 PM
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