Annual St. Paddy's Day Parade Hits The Street
DETROIT (WWJ) - It was the luck o' the Irish Sunday, weather-wise, for the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in Detroit. Official numbers may be a while in coming, but in the past the parade has drawn over a hundred thousand people.
Daniel Hayes, President of the United Irish Societies, says this year's parade includes about 140 units, marching bands, high school bands, and clans, like the O'Malley group.
A variety of floats and other representation from about 30 Irish organizations in the Detroit area could be scene along the route. Hayes did the announcing for the parade from a reviewing stand with the judges right outside the Gaelic League.
The parade has a charitable component as well - before the parade, about 6,000 runners hit the streets for the Corktown Races from the old train station to Campus Martius and back.
The Corktown Races are contributing to the St. Patrick Senior Center, which is next to St. Patrick Cathedral behind the Opera House in Detroit.
