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South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade Proves Rich In Energy, Tradition

BOSTON (CBS) -- There were bagpipers, horses and folks wearing funny hats all decked in green. The South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade is full of rich family tradition and energy.

The Doherty family from Peabody has been part of the parade for the past 40 years.

"We come every year and we have a strong family history in Ireland and it's a great day and weather held out so it's fabulous," Mary Doherty said.

Hundreds of thousands of people cheered along the parade route and on top of buildings. Many are Southie residents, but others come from different parts of the world.

Last year snow forced the city to shorten the route for the first time. This year the city tried to shorten the parade route because of safety reason and cost but organizers sued and the judge ruled in their favor.

"We did it for public safety reasons and today we have police on serious overtime today but we are going to make sure ' a safe parade like we always do," Mayor Marty Walsh said.

WBZ NewsRadio1030's Doug Cope reports

 

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