Sea of green: Thousands line the streets of Downtown Pittsburgh for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade
Pittsburgh painted the town green on Saturday.
From leprechauns and bagpipers, to jig dancers and flags waving of orange, green and white, the city celebrated its annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.
Spectators started arriving by 6 a.m. with parade participants lining up by 6:30 a.m.
It’s a special day, Dee Claiborne said as she warmed up on the tenor drum her father, a Scottish immigrant, had taught her to play.
With shamrock stickers on her cheeks and under her eyes, the 81-year-old from North Huntingdon was rehearsing with the Southwestern Pennsylvania Firefighters Pipes and Drums, which are based in Latrobe.
“I love everything about this parade,” said Claiborne, who also wore green top-hat earrings and twirled her white tenor mallets. “It celebrates heritage.”
She and her fellow musicians wore kilts with a pattern that honors the New York firefighters killed on Sept. 11, 2001.
David Keefe of Latrobe said the Southwestern Pennsylvania Firefighters Pipes and Drums represent 16 volunteer fire departments.
“This parade is about tradition more than anything,” Keefe said. “We love being a part of it, and so do so many other people. This is a wonderful event for the city.”
Pittsburgh hosts one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the country. Held the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day unless the holiday falls on a Saturday, the route is 1.4 miles long.
The parade attracts from 200,000 to 350,000 spectators and more depending on the weather, said parade chairman Jeff “Mac” McCafferty of Swisshelm Park.
The weather was good Saturday morning, with temperatures in the 40s and periods of sun at the start of the parade at 10.
There are typically 20,000 participants and nearly 200 groups such as Irish step dancers, marching bands, military members and community organizations, McCafferty said.
Each year the Irish community chooses a Miss Smiling Irish Eyes and two young ladies in her court maidens.
This year’s recipient is Madalyn Byrnes of Springdale and court maidens are Anna Catherine Hanley of Sewickley, a junior at Quaker Valley High School, and Brooke Ireland McArdle of Baldwin, a freshman at Pennsylvania Western University – Clarion.
Byrnes’ parents, Gary Byrnes and Regina Byrnes, watched from the sidewalk as their daughter and her court rode in a horse-drawn carriage. Madalyn Byrnes said it’s an honor to represent the Irish.
“She is really enjoying this,” Regina Byrnes said. “She has been smiling from ear to ear ever since she found out she was chosen.”
“We are so proud of her,” Gary Byrnes said. “For her to get this reward is awesome. She has been at this parade since she was 7 years old and has been involved with the Irish community her entire life.”
The Irish community in Pittsburgh is strong. About 16.3% of Pittsburghers identify as having Irish ancestry, according to the Senator John Heinz History Center in the Strip District, second only to the Germans at 19.6%.
One of the annual parade participants are police on horseback. Jill and Judson Ekis of Plum brought their children to see the horses. Judson is a former member of the police mounted patrol unit.
“The horses are very cool,” Jill said. “They are gentle giants. And when you see them you are, like, ‘Wow!’ They are imposing figures.”
Marguerite Patrick of the Strip District brought her toddler grandson, Dre, for his first parade. Patrick’s family is from County Cork, Ireland.
“The St. Patrick’s Day parade brings the city together in a great way,” said Patrick, who is a red head who wore shamrock socks. “And we definitely need that.”
The parade dates to 1869.
Saturday’s began at the intersection of Liberty Avenue and 11th Street, continued on to Grant Street and then onto the Boulevard of the Allies to Stanwix Street.
Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik blessed the parade. Mike Moog of Whitehall has been dressing as St. Patrick since 2019. This year’s grand marshal was Ireland native Rob Tierney of Brookline.
He came to the U.S. in 2001 to work for the Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh, which provides job training, economic development, leadership development and education. He is also the only full-time employee for the national body of Irish sports, the U.S. Gaelic Athletic Association.
“Pittsburgh is incredibly Irish,” Tierney said. “And as we know, everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day and parade day.”
That was evident Saturday from the sea of green.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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