Snowpack could force postponement of W. Warwick St. Patrick’s Day parade

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 3/10/15

The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of the Pawtuxet Valley will host their 56th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade this Sunday, March 15…if the snow melts in time.

Michael O’Connell, who has been …

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Snowpack could force postponement of W. Warwick St. Patrick’s Day parade

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The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of the Pawtuxet Valley will host their 56th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade this Sunday, March 15…if the snow melts in time.

Michael O’Connell, who has been planning the parade since 1989, said, “All this snow, which is not going away, is not making planning the parade any easier.”

With such a large accumulation this winter, there is no room for spectators along the route to watch the parade.

The parade first began with O’Connell’s father and uncle in the early 1960’s. Along with the rest of the Sons of St. Patrick, the brothers wanted to show off their Irish pride and support for President John F. Kennedy.

“The parade has really turned into a family affair,” O’Connell said. “Planning it has become second nature at this point. It’s part of our heritage, we need to celebrate it.”

Along with celebrating Irish culture and ancestry, the parade is also a way to celebrate the community.

This year’s grand marshal is Colonel Hugh Clements, the Providence Police Chief, who grew up in Coventry.

Ms. Ireland, who has been an O’Connell the past couple of years, is Maggie Daley, 17, whose grandfather was once a grand marshal and her father was a past president of the Sons of St. Patrick.

“We like to honor our people,” O’Connell said.

Annually, the parade usually draws a crowd of 20,000 to 25,000 patrons.

Luckily, with what looks like what will be a week above freezing temperatures this week, there is a chance to let the snow melt before Sunday.

O’Connell said, “We need the snow to melt because we really don’t want to have to postpone the event.”

He said, with so many other parades throughout the next few weeks it would be hard to reschedule. Many of the bands participating in this parade are committed to others throughout the month as well.

The West Warwick Police Department will make a decision closer to the parade date about whether or not it can run.

The parade starts on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the West Warwick-Coventry line. It will continue down Washington Street onto Main Street towards the West Warwick Town Hall. After the parade there will be a celebration at the Elks Lodge at 60 Clyde Street.

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