St. Charles salutes Irish heritage of city’s parade
March 16, 2013 8:16PM
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Updated: March 18, 2013 10:52AM
The St. Patrick’s Parade stepped off at 2 p.m. Saturday on Main Street in downtown St. Charles. Grand Marshal was Rosie Martinez, who helped found the St. Patrick’s Day parade in the city. In 1998, Maurice McNally invited Rosie to leave Dublin and help open McNally’s Traditional Irish Pub in St. Charles. In 1999, Rosie approached Sue Klinkhamer, the Mayor at the time, and asked if she could help organize a St. Patrick’s Parade for St. Charles. In 2000, Grand Marshal Rosie Martinez and a group of 15 volunteers helped establish the first parade with the Downtown St. Charles Partnership, the Chamber of Commerce, and with cooperation from the City of St. Charles.
This year’s parade featured bands, Irish dancers, authentic Irish music, floats, school groups, preschools, service clubs, and an array of floats. An estimated 15,000 people from around the area gathered to watch and participate in the parade. In addition to the parade, the St. Charles Veterinary Clinic sponsored a Deck out Your Lucky Dog Contest, and decorated dogs were invited to walk in the parade.
