St. Patrick's Day Parade Slated for Saturday, March 15th at Noon.

The 2008 St. Patrick's Day Parade will be held on Saturday, March 
15, 2008. The 49th  Annual Parade starts at 12:00 pm in Downtown 
Houston. 

The 2008 Parade Grand Marshal is Michael Daly.  Mike is one of the 
original 20 founders of the Irish Society. He is a stalwart of our 
organization and a tremendous supporter.  Over the years he has 
contributed greatly to the Houston Irish community. Mike 
and his lovely wife, Cindy, participate in many events of the Irish 
community.  

Always a free event, the two-hour parade has historically been one 
of the largest in the U.S. and plans to include over 100 entries to 
delight the Irish and Irish-at-heart.

"The St. Patrick's Day Parade gives everyone a chance to be Irish," 
said Pat Duane.  "It's one day when the sounds, sights and celebration 
transcend all nationalities and people come together to celebrate 
the spirit of the Irish."

The Houston St. Patrick's Day Parade Commission presents the 
parade.

The St. Patrick's Day Parade-A Houston Tradition

Houston's St. Patrick's Day Parade is rooted firmly in the city's 
heritage. The first parades date back to the 1880's when the parade 
(always on St. Patrick's Day) started in "Irish Town" by old St. 
Patrick's Church, which was located on Harrisburg. Flags, bands and 
marchers would march to Market Square for a day of fun, games, 
music, food and drink. The people spilled in and out of the various 
pubs in Market Square. At an earlier time, Dick Dowling, the Civil 
War hero, had a bar named the "Bank of Bacchus" at the edge of the 
square. It was a favorite gathering place.

The parade continued until World War I, when the Irish scattered 
all over the growing city. The Depression and World War II took 
priority in the people's lives and the parade disappeared. However, 
interest in the Irish and their happy ways were awakened when 
Houston oilman, Glen McCarthy, built the Shamrock Hotel in the late 
1940's. The Shamrock was the center of Irish culture throughout the 
1950's and the Irish were associated the good times again.

In 1960, radio personalities, Tim Nolan and Bob Bryant announced a 
St. Patrick's Day Parade for Downtown Houston on March 17th. This 
little parade was only a few blocks long, but it was the beginning 
seeds of the current St. Patrick's Day Parade. It has grown into 
one of the city's largest parades. It was always carried the theme 
that "Everyone is Irish-If only for the Day". It was a day for all 
to celebrate the fact that we are all Americans.

Of course the Parade had to have an organization behind it, so 
Channel 2 turned it over to a small group of Irishmen called the 
Ancient Order of Hibernians. The parade blossomed in the early 
years but it was a financial hardship on the AOH. In the 1970's 
when Dr. Edward Kearns became Parade Chairman, he went to Michael 
Griffin, owner of the famous Grif's Inn to form a group to finance 
the parade.

That was the beginning of the "Original 45", a group of businessmen 
and interested citizens, who got up the financial backing for the 
parade. Under the "Original 45", the Houston St. Patrick's Day 
Parade grew into the 4th largest parade of its kind in the nation.

In the late 1980's, the parade needed more financing . Silver Eagle 
Distributing Company came to its rescue and the Parade was moved to 
Richmond Avenue. The Parade never quite found its home on 
Richmond because its heart was always in Downtown Houston.

In the year 2000, the parade returned to home. Once again, the 
responsibility for financing fell on a revised version of the 
"Original 45", currently named the "Irish 100".

The current Parade Chairman is Mr. Sean Kearns. Other key members of 
the Parade Commission are Pat Duane, Michael Griffin, Head of the 
Executive Committee and Jeannie Kearns, Parade Treasurer, Jennifer 
Kearns, Judging Coordinator, Mary Kearns, Parade Coordinator.

Throughout the 49-year history of the parade, a handful of people 
have run the parade with the high standard that the parade is a 
showcase of Irish fun and Culture of the whole family.

All aspects of Houston's diverse population have been represented 
as Grand Marshal. Movie personalities, Dennie O'Keefe and Dennis 
Day were among the first to serve as Grand Marshal. Astronauts 
Robert Crippen and Brian Duffey represented NASA, as well as George 
Abbey, Director of NASA and Gerald Griffin, former NASA director.

Other Grand Marshals include football greats, Dan Pastorini, Jim 
Kelley, and Coach Kevin Gilbride, business leaders, Jim McIngvale 
and Glen McCarthy, Jr., local politicians, Johnnie Goyen and Mayor 
Jim McConn, Dr. Denton Cooley, Dr. Joseph McFadden, former 
president of St. Thomas University.

Also the St. Patrick's Parade has honored local Irishmen such as: 
Burke O'Rourke, Pat Patton, Jim McNamara, Larry and Kathleen 
Miggins,  Jay Dooling & Pete Little, Tom Horan and Dr. Edward Kearns
and his wife, Jeannie Kearns.

Mrs. Kearns was the first woman to become Grand Marshal of the St.
Patrick's Day Parade.

The St. Patrick's Day Parade Commission is proud to have Project 
St. Brendan and the "International Space School" as our local 
charities. The Houston St. Patrick's Parade Commission is dedicated 
to restoring the Houston parade back to its original glory.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRE-PARADE CONTACT: Jeanie Kearns 713-365-9648