Father Patrick OβSullivan raised the cross high above his head and, to the skirling of bagpipes and the solemn tolling of bells, stepped out the front door of St. Monicaβs parish church in northwest Detroit on March 17, 1958 β and into history. The parishioners circumnavigated the church for a total of nine blocks, then returned for Mass and a light breakfast.
This was Detroitβs first St. Patrickβs Day parade in nearly 50 years, and it went mostly unremarked at the time.
But Father OβSullivan was obviously keyed into something. The following year, the parade moved to Dearborn, attracting around 3,000 visitors. In 1960, 48 marching units, accompanied by 19 bands and 16 floats, established a Detroit parade route south on Woodward Avenue from Brush Park to Campus Martius.
In the 60 years since that 1958 revival, Detroitβs St. Patrickβs Day parade has changed times, routes, and tenor, but to many Detroiters, Irish or not, itβs ingrained into the fabric of the city.
Historically, Detroitβs parade has had its ups and downs, popularity-wise. In its early incarnations, the St. Patrickβs Day parade was an occasion for pomp and circumstance. The first celebrations of Irelandβs national saint in Detroit was recorded in 1808.
The festivities grew annually, especially with Detroitβs two major influxes of Irish immigrants in the 1850s and again in the 1880s. Army battalions and Irish immigrants marched in an hours-long procession of emerald uniforms, brilliant ribbons, and jubilantly waved flags from every county in Ireland.
Most times, the final parade route was not announced until a day or two before the event, since the planners were forced by weather and road conditions to work spontaneously.
Wrangling together 4,000 or so marchers was no easy feat in the days before direct telephone lines; the 1893 St. Patrickβs Day parade kicked off nearly a half hour late because the leading band couldnβt find the starting point of the parade. As the procession meandered its way up Washington Boulevard for an honorary stop at the home of Bishop John Samuel Foley, Foley had to rush over to greet them from the Mass he was celebrating at St. Patrickβs church.
By the early 20th century, temperance, wars, and an increasingly suburbanized Irish-American population led parade attendance to dwindle. In 1907, early Detroitβs final St. Patrickβs Day parade consisted of one lone holdout. Saloon keeper Jim Foley (no relation to the bishop) hired a German marching band to follow his green-bedecked horse to a tavern. After a few toasts, the German band was too tired to accompany Foley on his march back up Woodward Avenue so he made his way alone with the Irish flag drooping slightly from his hands.
Detroitβs Irish-Americans, though, never ceased to celebrate their heritage on St. Patrickβs Day. Despite one gloomy Detroiter proclaiming in 1929 that βthere is no more Corktown,β banquet halls and dance palaces could count on a large showing at annual gatherings. Organizations like the Gaelic League and the Ancient Order of Hibernians hosted lavish dances and balls, with 5,000 party-goers cramming into the Book Cadillacβs three ballrooms in 1940. As early as 1952, petitions to City Council requested that the parade be brought back.
Back in 1958, it took 12 community members and Father OβSullivan, meeting for months in the upstairs room of the newly built Gaelic League on Michigan Avenue in Corktown, to bring it back.
βWe wanted to re-establish the close ties between County Cork and our own Corktown,β recalls Nora Cassidy, whose husband Jim was one of those organizers. She notes that in recent years, more and more Irish dignitaries are joining the occasion. βWe showed them such a good time last year, this year theyβre coming back with five.β
βItβs about our pride in our history, but itβs also a chance to give back,β says Erin Keem, who, with her husband Dave, is the 2018 Grand Marshall. The parade is organized by the United Irish Societies, a group composed of 32 fraternal orders, heritage societies, and professional organizations.
βWeβre about so much more than just the parade, really,β Keem explains. βOur groups donate and raise funds for charities all over metro Detroit all year long.β In addition to Irish heritage charities, the United Irish Societies support First Step domestic violence shelter, Toys for Tots, the St. Patrickβs Senior Center, and a host of other nonprofits.
Brian Dunleavy, last yearβs grand marshall and co-owner of Dunleavyβs Pub in Allen Park, agrees. βItβs an honor to be part of the parade, and itβs the result of a lot of hard work from everyone involved. Itβs not just about the one day, though that is a pretty great day.β
Although the current parade route, in Corktown since 1985, is fairly well established by now, marchers and spectators know well that March in Michigan can bring weather extremes and the occasional unexpected obstacle. A caution from a 1900 parade route announcement applies equally now: βThe condition of the streets,β whether clogged by mud or partygoers, βwill influence the route very materially.β
All are welcome to participate.
Mickey Lyons is a Detroit-based researcher and writer. She holds a masterβs degree in Irish studies from Boston College. The 60thΜύDetroit St. Patrickβs Parade will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 11. Visit Μύ for more information. Μύ
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