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St. Pat's Atlanta 2009 |
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2009 will be the largest, best attended St. Patrick's Parade & Festival since the first Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade held 151 years ago, in 1858. The parade ends at Fabulous Underground Atlanta with Vendors, Food and FREE Entertainment, Music & Dancing. The 2009 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. This year is going to be an even BIGGER DEAL than previous years' record breaking parades & festivals. We expect to significantly exceed prior crowds. Many dignitaries and previous participants are already on board for 2009. 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 in Atlanta, 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 Atlanta “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.
It's “IN” to be Irish in today’s
dynamic times.
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