It was a great day to be Irish in The Villages as the second-ever Irish Parade staged entirely by Villagers took to the streets of Spanish Springs Town Square.
A big crowd lined the streets for the parade which included numerous decorated golf carts, Irish clubs, the Villages Cheerleaders, the Villages Twirlers and even a kazoo band.
The parade had to be delayed a day due to rainy weather on Monday, March 17. But the delay paid off with a beautiful sunny day on Tuesday.
A husband-and-wife both named Pat had the distinction of being named the Irish Couple of the Year by the Irish American Club St. Patrick’s Division.
Thus, they rode in the parade in a golf cart showing their distinction.
“It’s just a great day to be Irish. Having the parade is wonderful and to see so many people come out,” said Pat Gillooley, the husband of the Pat & Pat duo of El Cortez.
The same club had named Nora Briel of the Village of Chatham as the Irish Person of the Year.
Three parades a year are now staged entirely by residents — the Irish parade in March and the Italian and German parades in October.
Members of the Italian, German and Irish clubs banded together to form the Resident Parade Committee.
The all-volunteer army does all of the work from staging the parade in the early morning hours to cleaning up after the event.
To view our photos from this year’s parade, click here and visit our photo album!
