The Weymouth Irish Heritage Day Parade Is Back For It’s 4th Year On September 24th
Mark your calendars for September 24th because the Weymouth Irish Heritage Day Parade will take over Columbian Square in Weymouth for its fourth year.
While the day is undoubtedly a nod to Irish culture, you don’t have to be Irish to join in the festivities. It’s a call to everyone who loves a good parade, joyous music, and the community spirit. Irish music will fill the air, and wearing the color “green” is a must that day!
In 2019 I went to the first Weymouth Irish Heritage Day Parade with my dog, Brate. There were lots of dogs, music and people. All of us were dressed in green!
How The Idea Of The Parade Began
Weymouth’s Councilor-at-large, Fred Happel, envisioned a town-wide St. Patrick’s Day event that would gather the community and celebrate Irish traditions and culture. His vision took form in March of 2019 with the inaugural Irish Heritage Day Parade.
“I felt the town needed a positive event to bring us together as a community after a number of sad events prior including The Chesna Murder, the Mighty Quinn, Cooper Richards and Kate McCarthy.” Fred continued, “I have connections with the Irish Community and in Ireland along with a relationship with The Cottage Bar located at the end of the parade route and felt that this would be a successful event to bring everyone together.”
This parade was traditionally a March event (aligning with St. Patrick’s Day), but now the town of Weymouth has made a new tradition to have this event every year in September.
The Weymouth Irish Heritage Day Parade Details
The parade is set to start at 11:00am from Hamilton School at 400 Union St. in Weymouth. The expected 7,000 spectators will enjoy marching bands, local elected officials, and non-profit groups. Over 70 local south shore businesses are scheduled to walk in the parade. They will march down the street, past The Cottage Bar, and take a left until it culminates at Camelot Way in Columbian Square. (They usually pass out candy too!)
Coach O’Toole is the 2023 Grand Marshal of the Weymouth Irish Heritage Day Parade. Coach will be escorted by the Weymouth High Wildcats football team.
But don’t hurry home just yet! The parade serves as a delightful prelude to the main event – a vibrant festival at Stella Tirrell Park.
The special guest this year is our Grand Marshal, Coach Pat O’Toole. Coach O’Toole has been the strength and conditioning coach at the high school the last 28-years and has been a great mentor to the student athletes of Weymouth High. Coach O’Toole will be accompanied by his family and the Weymouth High Wildcats Football Team.
What You Can Expect At Stella Tirrell Park
While the parade might take center stage, the accompanying festival at Stella Tirrell Park is the cherry on top. Expect live music that will make you sway, sing, or even jig! Irish entertainment and The Forbes School of Irish Dance will be performing at the festival. Coming from Derry, Ireland is Shaun Mccafferty and Alban Norbby. They will perform along with Devri, The Silver Speaks and some children from a local Irish music school.
And what’s a festival without some mouth-watering delights? Food trucks will be lined up, offering a smorgasbord of delicacies. Additionally, over 40 vendors will set up their stalls, offering a myriad of items for you to browse and buy. From quintessential Irish artifacts to a variety of non-Irish items, there’s something for everyone.
Join the Festivities In Weymouth!
Mark your calendars, invite your friends and family, and make your way to Weymouth this September 24th. It’s more than just a parade and festival. It’s an emotion, a celebration, and a day where the community comes together under the banner of unity, festivity, and, of course, the love for all things Irish!
RELATED:
Best Irish Bars On The South Shore...Where To Get The Perfect Pint
When it comes to enjoying a perfectly poured pint of Guinness, the South Shore is the place to go! From lively Irish pubs to cozy local bars, the South Shore is home to several Irish spots where you can indulge in the rich, creamy goodness of the iconic Irish stout.
An advertisement for Guinness with the slogans ‘Guinness is good for you’ and ‘Nothing takes its place’. Original Publication: Illustrated London News – pub. 1932 (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
For many years in a row, the South Shore proudly holds the distinction of being home to the most “Irish zip codes” in America. Here’s the break down of Irish residents according to WCVB:
02339 Hanover: 46.3%
02382 Whitman: 45.6%
02081 Walpole: 44%
02061 Norwell: 42.7%
20351 Abington: 42.3%
02190 South Weymouth: 41.7%
02184 Braintree: 41.6%
02188 Weymouth: 40.2%
With all of those Irish people, there’s GOT to be good Irish bars on the South Shore, right? YES! Let’s go find them in the following Towns of Weymouth, Norwell, Whitman, Abington and Hingham.
Many of these Irish pubs in this area offer a wide range of delicious dishes that pair perfectly with a pint of Guinness too! From hearty stews, to fish and chips, to savory pies and traditional Irish soda bread, the South Shore’s culinary scene ensures that your Guinness experience is accompanied by mouthwatering flavors. Some of them even serve the famous “South Shore Pizza too!”
No matter what pub you attend, you will hear the sweet sounds of folky Irish music. Sometimes it’s live music, and other times it’s blasting through the pub’s speakers. Either way it will leave you wanting to leave MA and hop on a flight to Ireland!
When it comes to enjoying a perfectly poured pint of Guinness, the South Shore is the place to go! From lively Irish pubs to cozy local bars, the South Shore is home to several Irish spots where you can indulge in the rich, creamy goodness of the iconic Irish stout.
An advertisement for Guinness with the slogans ‘Guinness is good for you’ and ‘Nothing takes its place’. Original Publication: Illustrated London News – pub. 1932 (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
For many years in a row, the South Shore proudly holds the distinction of being home to the most “Irish zip codes” in America. Here’s the break down of Irish residents according to WCVB:
02339 Hanover: 46.3%
02382 Whitman: 45.6%
02081 Walpole: 44%
02061 Norwell: 42.7%
20351 Abington: 42.3%
02190 South Weymouth: 41.7%
02184 Braintree: 41.6%
02188 Weymouth: 40.2%
With all of those Irish people, there’s GOT to be good Irish bars on the South Shore, right? YES! Let’s go find them in the following Towns of Weymouth, Norwell, Whitman, Abington and Hingham.
Many of these Irish pubs in this area offer a wide range of delicious dishes that pair perfectly with a pint of Guinness too! From hearty stews, to fish and chips, to savory pies and traditional Irish soda bread, the South Shore’s culinary scene ensures that your Guinness experience is accompanied by mouthwatering flavors. Some of them even serve the famous “South Shore Pizza too!”
No matter what pub you attend, you will hear the sweet sounds of folky Irish music. Sometimes it’s live music, and other times it’s blasting through the pub’s speakers. Either way it will leave you wanting to leave MA and hop on a flight to Ireland!
Ayla Brown is the host of “Country Mornings With Ayla Brown” from 5:30-9am. You can read the rest of her blogs here.
