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Parade
History
By Lonnie McCauley
2001 Grand Marshall
Perhaps it was a blustery day, or perhaps
the sun sent its warming rays on the first
group of Cleveland Irish that marched
its way from church to church on that
March 17th, St. Patrick's Day approximately
1867. Most likely it was the Ancient Order
of Hibernians that organized the songs,
and dancing, while large groups of friends
and relatives looked on with pride. In
the early years, the parade was always
on the West Side, as that is where most
of the Irish were, from the Flats on west
to about 67th Street.
As the years progressed the Parade enlarged
as did the audience and by the turn of
the century and shortly thereafter, the
Hibernian Riflemen and the Irish Tradesmen
were an integral part of the planning
and carrying out of the St. Patrick's
Day Parade. In 1900, the Cleveland Leader
, Cleveland's most prominent, but anti-Irish
newspaper, would give a list of the happenings
for March17; St. Cecelia's was producing
the play, Shaun Aroon; Inshavague was
at Cathedral Hall; and St. Thomas Aquinas
had Soggarth's Return ; but no notice
of the Parade was to be seen in their
print. It wasn't until ten years later,
on March 17, 1910, that Senator Dan Mooney
of the Ohio State Legislature introduced
a bill which even recognized St. Patrick's
Day in Ohio.
Two years later, however, who could help
but take notice, as crowds estimated at
100,000 from as far away as Chicago and
New York, came to the 1912 Parade. They
came to welcome home Johnny Kilbane, a
local boy from W. 74 St, who won the World
Featherweight Championship Crown, a crown
he won from Abe Atell in Los Angeles and
was to keep until 1923. This was Cleveland's
largest Parade ever.
The war and depression affected the Parade;
too many men off to war, women working
in factories, poverty and hard times,
so that from 1913 to 1935 there was no
Downtown Parade, but instead some smaller
version on the West Side of town from
either a hotel or church to some prearranged
destination.
From 1935 until 1957, under the auspices
of the Irish Civic Association, the Parade
gained in scope and stature. The event,
however, was becoming so large and expensive
that in 1958 eight groups: The Irish Civic
Association, Sons and Daughters of Eire,
the West Side Irish American Club, the
Ancient Order of Hibernians and their
Ladies Auxiliary, the Gaelic Athletic
Association , the Irish Cultural Garden
League, the Cleveland Gaelic Society and
the Pioneers, formed a single group: The
United Irish Societies(UIS). It is this
group that established the Parade Committee
whose sole purpose was to be the planning,
fundraising, organizing and execution
of the Parade. Since then the following
groups have also joined the UIS: the Irish
American Club East Side(1979), the Emerald
Civic Society(1989), the Retired Irish
Police Society(1980), St. Jarlath's Football
Club(1980), the Cleveland Feis Society
(1983) St. Patrick's Football Club(changed
from the Gaelic Football Club 1985) the
Irish Heritage Club(1987)the Shamrock
Club (Firefighters 1983), the Irish Northern
Aid Committee (1992), the Padraic Pearse
Center(1993) and the Irish Cultural Festival
(1993). Representatives of these groups
meet many times a year to plan all phases
of the Parade.
As part of the ceremony of the Cleveland
Parade, a Grand Marshall is chosen to
preside over the Parade. This is an honorary
title given to a man "usually in
his senior years, who has contributed
significantly to the advancement of the
Irish Activities in Cleveland." This
recognition has been part of the ceremony
since 1935. also, since 1963, a "Mother
of the Year" has also been recognized.
this honor is given to "a woman whose
life has reflected credit on the Irish
Nationality. and who's example has been
a source of inspiration to the community."
The year 1966 was a special one in Parade
History as the 50th Anniversary of the
1916 Easter Uprising was recognized. Twenty-five
irish Republican Army Veterans of the
uprising were recognized, nineteen of
them being able to attend the Parade and
hear their names resound over the loudspeaker
of the Reviewing Stand to the thunderous
applause of the audience.
Cleveland's Parade, of course, is one
of many; the original being in Manhattan,
March 17, 1762, as irish militiamen on
their was to s St. Patrick's Day breakfast
in Hull's Tavern, played their band music
and marched as enthusiastic crowds surrounded
them. John J. Concannon, former Public
Relations Director of the New York Parade,
has verified the existence of some 124
other parades; the second oldest being
Savannah, Ga, their 182nd this year, Montreal,
their 170th and Chicago's 151st.
This year there will be over 10,000 participants
in bands, floats, drill teams, marching
units and novelties, who, after hearing
the American and Irish National Anthems
will march, float, jig, rid, dance or
unicycle in honor of St. Patrick and Ireland.
It will be the 128th time Cleveland Irish
will be publicly showing their pride,
talent and their commitment to their heritage.
It is a proud tradition.
This history was written in 1995 by Lonnie
McCauley. Lonnie gave thanks to Rip Reilly,
Executive Emertius and United Irish society
member for 38 years for his time and historical
information.The United Irish Societies
appreciate that Lonnie McCauley wrote
this history of our Parade.
In the fall of 2000, the delegates of
the United Irish Society chose the first
woman to be Grand Marshall. That honor
was bestowed on Lonnie McCauley the 2001
St. Patrick's Day Parade Grand Marshall.
Unfortunately, Lonnie was not able to
march up the Avenue on St. Patrick's Day.
Lonnie McCauley was Called Home to God
on March 18, 2001.
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