A Message From the Parade Committee Chairman,

Jimmy Green

“Top o' the mornin' to ya”, my fellow Pittsburghers. It's getting to be that time of year again when “everyone wants to be Irish on St. Patrick's Day.”

As Chairman of the Pittsburgh St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee, I greatly appreciate this opportunity to address the community-at-large on behalf of the committee. The purpose of this letter is to explain who we are and why we volunteer our time to put together this wonderful parade.

Our committee consists of 100 to 125 community volunteers from throughout the city and suburbs. Members of our committee are good, community-spirited people.

We're active in various Irish-American organizations such as the Men's and Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Knights of Equity, the Daughters of Erin, the Irish Center of Pittsburgh, the Ireland Institute and the Irish-American Unity Conference, to name a few.

We are justifiably proud of the historical contributions the Irish have made, along with other ethnic groups, in helping to build this city dating back to the founding of our nation.

We are proud of our ancestors who came here, in many cases, under horrible, oppressive conditions. Some of them, and their children, became historic city names in our city, such as Lawrence, O'Connor, Doyle, and others.

They also became police officers, firefighters, mill workers, teachers and laborers. They helped build the railroads and factories, and became part of the toughness and character that Pittsburgh is famously known for and of which it is so fiercely proud.

Our committee volunteers its time and energy from October until March to present a parade to the community which honors our Irish patron, St. Patrick, as well as to pay tribute to our ancestors and yours.

That is why we've always held our parade on a Saturday, so that families and working people can attend. The people we put our parade together for are mothers and fathers, elders and youngsters, brothers and sisters - families, yours and ours.

Also, despite misconceptions, the parade marchers are not restricted to individuals or groups representing only the Irish and Irish Americans in Pittsburgh , but instead are inclusive of the many ethnic heritages of our region. We've had estimates of 250,000 spectators when the weather cooperates. We believe it is the second largest St. Patrick's Day parade in America .

Over the last few years, we have been pleased to see many more families and kids returning to the parade as spectators. Our message of promoting a family atmosphere, along with great support from the city and various law enforcement agencies has helped us begin to return the parade to what is was meant to be – A grand and festive holiday that observes the feast day of our patron Saint Patrick.

As we have in the past, we welcome all of our parade participants and spectators, families, college students - people young and old alike, to celebrate with us responsibly. We have a great parade tradition in Pittsburgh , dating to 1869, and we welcome you to enjoy it with us.

Please! Celebrate and enjoy, but with moderation and responsibility, so that we can all enjoy this annual rite of spring together. Thank you!

Jim Green, Chairman,
Pittsburgh St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee