In the fifth century St. Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland and is the nation’s patron saint. During his lifetime he wrote “Confessio,” a depiction of his spiritual journey, and “Letter to Coroticus,” in which he denounced the British treatment of Irish Christians.
Throughout the centuries the treatment of Irish men and women as second-class citizens continued, as England denied them the right to vote, the right to own property and severely punished or executed anyone who rebelled against British rule.
After the Great Hunger in the middle of the 19th century, coffin ships carried more than one million Irish men and women to the United States where they tried to make a new life. Yet, they never forgot the old sod – especially on St. Patrick’s Day where amid the celebrations many tears fell thinking about family members still in Ireland.
Gloucester City became home for many of the immigrants, and still has a large Irish-American population. On a beautiful, sunny March 1, nearly 2,000 people from the Holy City and surrounding towns lined up along Monmouth Street to enjoy the 11th annual St. Patrick’s Parade.
The Gloucester City High School ROTC Color Guard flying the flags of the United States and Ireland led the parade, followed by Grand Marshals Anne Barron and the Barron family and Maryann Saunders and the Saunders family.
Getting the people dancing in the street were members of the Gloucester City String Band playing lively songs, and next came the Knights of Columbus Council 674 float with a statue of St. Patrick.
The women on the Catholic Daughters of American float tossed candy to the children, followed by Fox traffic reporter Bob Kelly getting the crown pumped up to the music of the Gloucester City-based Durning String Band.
Crowd favorites included the youngsters from the Peter School of Irish Dance having a great time doing traditional jigs and the local Misty Dewers playing traditional tunes and a few rebel songs.
Also entertaining the audience were more than 10 strings bands and the Gloucester City Irish Society Pipes and Drums Band and five other Pipes and Drums bands. Overall, the parade was a three-hour celebration of St. Patrick and Ireland.
The Gloucester City Irish Society and Camden County Commissioners thanked the following parade sponsors: Raising Cane’s; Wade, Long, Wood & Long; Maley Givens; Capodagli Property Company; Roofers Local 30; Gloucester IT; Triad Associates; McCann-Healey Funeral Home; SLK Consulting; Fort Nassau Graphics; Remington & Vernick Engineering; Bach Engineering; Knights of Columbus Council 674; Mattleman, Weinroth & Miller; Russo Moving and Transport; Viza Property Management; Chubby’s Steakhouse; and The Bank Bar.
