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celebrating 250 years of the
new york city
s t . p at r i c k ' s d ay p a r a d e
w r i t t e n b y J o h n T. R i d g e & e d i t e d b y L y n n M o s h e r B u s h n e l l
T h e S t . P a t r i c k ’s D a y P a r a d e C o m m i t t e e , I n c .
The Quinnipiac University Press
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A
n American landmark will be reached in 2011, when New York City celebrates the 250th anniversary of its St. Patrick’s Day Parade.The first parade was held on March 17, 1762, fourteen years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. That heritage is uniquely presented in Celebrating 250 Years of the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade, written by noted historian John T. Ridge and edited by Lynn Mosher Bushnell.This beautiful book, published by Quinnipiac University Press, pays heartfelt tribute to the Irish in America, descendants of the seven million who emigrated from Ireland over three centuries.The annual parade reflects their strength, their spirit, and their passion and contributes to the special character of NewYork City. Through moving narative, Celebrating 250 Years of the New York City St. Patrick's Day
Parade explores the past, present and future of Irish-American heritage in a vivid portrait of the nation’s longest-running parade. Drawing from New York’s most precious photographic archives, editor Lynn Mosher Bushnell has assembled a visual history of the parade that unfolds page by page with hundreds of rare and extraordinary photographs. Held each year to honor Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, the parade also honors the Archdiocese of NewYork by celebrating a proud legacy of Irish faith and heritage.This year the parade will again be reviewed from the steps of St. Patrick’s Cathedral by Archbishop of New York,Timothy Dolan, a tradition dating from earlier days at the Old St. Patrick's Cathedral in Lower Manhattan. In 2011, as in all 249 previous years, the parade will be organized by volunteers from
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the community and the Ancient Order of Hibernians under the careful stewardship of the St. Patrick’s Parade Committee guided by Chairman-Director John T. Dunleavy.This year the Grand Marshal of this historic parade is best-selling author Mary Higgins Clark. “Recognizing the 250th Anniversary of the NewYork City St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a momentous occasion worthy of great joy and celebration,” says Mr. Dunleavy. “By publishing this signature book along with Quinnipiac University Press, we strive to preserve the history of the parade and the memory of all the wonderful years for future generations to enjoy and remember. On behalf of the parade committee, our affiliated organizations, sponsors and supporters, we hope you enjoy this publication and all that it represents in our proud 250-year history of marching on the streets of New York.”
The NewYork City St.Patrick’s Day Parade workers and committee members are volunteers. Some members and their families have helped run the parade for several generations. All take great pride in the work while encouraging others of Irish heritage and descent to join them in organizing and running the world’s largest parade. In a recent message Mary McAleese, President of Ireland, said,“Every year on the 17th of March, we in Ireland come together with our extended family around the world to honor our patron saint and to celebrate all the attributes that made us proud to be Irish. It gives us immense pleasure and delight to see so many celebrations of our culture and traditions taking place across the globe. Our connection to New York and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in that city is a particularly strong and special one.”
“A book that is sure to be treasured by your family for generations to come… Now for the first time, you too can enjoy this wonderful keepsake of all those memorable parades through the decades.” Best-selling author, Mary Higgins Clark 2011 Parade Grand Marshal
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Don’t let the
PARADE Pass you by On Sale Now Look for us at selected bookstores. Order on our website, www.250yearsparadebook.com Purchase by check or money order through Quinnipiac University Press at (203) 582-8655 or Jayne.Young@quinnipiac.edu
$49.95
JOHN T. RIDGE has been attending St. Patrick’s Day Parades since the 1950s when his immigrant Irish parents first took him to watch the spectacle on Fifth Avneue. For more than 40 years he has been a regular marcher in the ranks and at the same time a careful observer of the parade’s struggles and triumphs in an era of major challenges. As historian for the parade committee, Ridge has combined his insider’s view with the years of research in libraries and archives to bring to life a unique picture of New York’s parade.
LYNN MOSHER BUSHNELL has marched in the storied New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade under the Quinnipiace University banner for nearly 20 years. Quinnipiac University is home to An Gorta Mór, the world’s largest collection of art and literature devoted exclusively to Ireland’s Great Hunger. The extensive sculpture collection and other rare holdings may be viewed on the Quinnipiac University campus or online at www.thegreathunger.org.