Hibernians Cancel 2021 St. Patrick’s Day Parade

by Chris O’Neill

The Huntington St Patrick's Day Parade - Long Island’s oldest and one of its largest St. Patrick’s Day parades - a tradition in Huntington every year since 1934, has been cancelled. It will be replaced with a YouTube "virtual event" on March 14, 2021 at 2PM, and the parade will be re-run next year.

“Out an of an abundance of caution during the COVID pandemic, we have canceled our March 2021 parade," stated the Huntington Ancient Order of Hibernians. "The parade will return next year, 2022, as we look forward to celebrating our front-line workers who went above and beyond during this deadly pandemic…”

This year's Grand Marshal, Michael Dowling, the CEO of Northwell Health, concurred that the cancellation this year makes sense, and has graciously agreed to serve as the 2022 Grand Marshal.

The Hibernians are known for their local charitable work – feeding over 200 families during Thanksgiving and providing thousands of dollars in scholarships at five local high schools.

The group was founded in the New York in 1836, as an Irish Catholic fraternal organization. Its original purpose to act as guards to protect Catholic churches from anti-Catholic mobs in the mid-19th century, and to assist Irish Catholic immigrants, especially those who faced discrimination or harsh coal mining working conditions.

The Irish have a historical record of dealing with adversity - and pledge to be back even stronger next year.