Brookfield Woman to Co-Grand Marshal Danbury St. Patrick's Day Parade

BROOKFIELD, CT—A Brookfield woman will have the honor of serving at this year's Co-Grand Marshal of the Greater Danbury St. Patrick's Day Parade on Sunday, March 24, 2024, in downtown Danbury. Barbara Randall is a member of the Danbury Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAOH), an Irish-Catholic charitable organization that meets at the Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Center in Danbury. The man of the year, named by the Danbury Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), is Kevin Finucane, formerly of Southbury.

Barbara Randall was born and raised in Danbury. After graduating from WCSU she taught school for 2 years in Australia and then worked for a publishing company in New York. She joined the LAOH in 2010 and has been a Historian and Financial Secretary for the Danbury Division. Her volunteer activities include working at the festival, packing food baskets for the needy and cooking and serving corned beef on St. Patrick’s Day.

Kevin Finucane was born in the Bronx and lived in the Bronx and Queens throughout his school years. He attended Manhattan College where he graduated with two degrees in Chemical Engineering. Prior to moving to Southbury, Kevin and Maureen lived in northern New Jersey. During his time working in Danbury, Kevin worked with Sean Hearty, who introduced him to the AOH and Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Center (GDICC). Over the years, Kevin has served on the GDICC Board for 3 years as well as AOH Treasurer for 3 years.

Brookfield and Danbury's Irish-Americans kicked off their month-and-a-half-long celebrations with their St. Patrick's Day Parade fundraiser last Sunday, Feb. 28th with a benefit concert at Molly Darcy's.

The celebrations will continue this Saturday, Feb.24, 2024 at the Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Center (GDICC), 6 Lake Ave., Danbury, CT with special guest Irish musician, Danny Ringrose, who plays Irish pub favorites with a tall tale and a joke sprinkled in. The kitchen will be open from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. with Irish specials including Guinness Stew and Colcannon. The pub is open until 10 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. All are welcome.

Local Irish folks and Irish-for-a-Day residents can celebrate Irish-American Heritage Month all month long with a wide variety of parades, concerts, flag raisings, St. Patrick's Day Mass, Irish dance showcases, tastings, and much more!

FEBRUARY:

· Saturday, Feb. 24: Dan Ringrose, Irish Acoustic, 5 - 8 p.m., Danbury Irish Club, 6 Lake Ave., Danbury, free, open to the public and all are welcome!

MARCH 2024:

· Saturday, March 2, 6:30-10:30 p.m., St. Patrick's Day Ball, Amber Room, Stacey Rd., Danbury. Tickets *must* be purchased in advance no later than Sat. 2/24/24. Email Danbury Irish for details.

· Saturday, March 9, 8:30 a.m., St. Patrick's Day Mass at St. Edward the Confessor Church, Brush Hill Rd., New Fairfield with music and prayers in English and Gaelic. Following the Mass is the 55th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in New Fairfield (Danbury's parade will be held on 3/24/24). New Fairfield resident Peter Hearty and family will lead off the parade procession from St. Edward's Church to New Fairfield Town Hall where the Irish flag will be raised by the woman and man Hibernians of the year, Barbara Randall and Kevin Finucane, followed by refreshments inside.

· Saturday, March 9, Monthly Session (Irish Music Circle with fiddle, tin whistle, etc.) with Nora Hanley & Friends at the Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Center (GDICC), 6 Lake Ave., Danbury, CT, 6 - 9 p.m.

· Saturday, March 16, BETHEL Irish Flag Raising, 9 a.m., flag raising at 1 P.T. Barnum Sq., 2nd flag raising at Municipal Center, followed by refreshments in Town Hall. The First Selectman, local Hibernians, and the two Hibernians of the Year will raise the flag and sing the Irish and American National Anthem.

· Saturday, March 16: St. Patrick's Day Party at the GDICC, 10 a.m. - 11 p.m., Live Irish music w/Nora Hanley & Friends at 2:30 p.m., Ashurst Academy of Irish Dance at 5:00 p.m., Dean Snellback & Friends, 7-9 p.m.

· Saturday, March 16, DANBURY - St. Patrick's Day: St. Patrick's Day Mass at 11 a.m. at St. Peter Church, Irish Flag Raising at Danbury City Hall with Mayor Alves, local dignitaries, the Hibernians of the Year at 12:15 p.m. followed by refreshments at City Hall.

· Sunday, March 17, St. Patrick's Day Party! The GDICC is open from 10 a.m. - 11 p.m. with corned beef sandwiches, Irish soda bread, and refreshments. The GDICC has Guinness and Harp on tap as well as 2 Roads, Sam Adams seasonal, cocktails, wine, and a wide variety of other libations. Thorne Academy of Irish Dance will perform at 12:30 p.m. followed by live Irish music from Steve O'Tree & Friends.

· Sunday, March 24, Greater Danbury St. Patrick's Day Parade, sponsored by UK Gourmet, steps off at 2 p.m. at St. Peter Church, Main St., Danbury. The parade starts at St. Peter Church, turns left on West St., continues straight up Lake Ave., and ends with an after-party at the GDICC, 6 Lake Ave. Danbury, with live Irish music, dance, food, and refreshments.

The Hibernians of the Year will have the distinct honor of leading the City of Danbury's parade on Sunday, March 24th at 2:00 p.m., along with their fellow Hibernians, Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums Corps, Newtown Horse Guard, local Girl Scout and Boy Scout Troops, the Mayor of the City of Danbury along with local politicians and elected officials, Danbury and surrounding towns' fire departments, Danbury police, and other marching units. The Danbury St. Patrick's Day Parade is co-chaired this year by Kevin Hearty of New Fairfield and Catherine Bach of Bethel.

Questions? Call the club at (203) 739-0010 or email DanburyIrish@gmail.com.

Photo credit: Greg Cohen Photography

ABOUT:

The Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that exists to promote and preserve Irish history and culture in the greater Danbury area through music, dance Irish history, language lessons, festivals, parades, and more. Additional information can be found on their website by visiting www.gdicc.org