Sobering Paddy's parade planned

St. Patrick's Day in Ireland and St. Patrick's Day in Las Vegas and the rest of the United States have in past years been different types of occasions, with more solemn remembrances in Ireland and more rollicking fun across the pond.

However, in the wake of terrorist attacks on the United States and the war in Afghanistan, remembering the fallen will be as much on tap as the flowing green beer in local celebrations.

"When I visited Ireland in 1990, I saw that, to the Irish there, the day paid solemn tribute to St. Patrick as their patron saint," said Ken Murphy, past president of the Sons of Erin and the chairman of next Sunday's St. Patrick's Day Parade. "Here, it is a chance to party, as if you need a reason to party."

Murphy and other event officials certainly are not discouraging people from wearing their Kelly green garb or glittery emerald derbies adorned with "Kiss me, I'm Irish" buttons. They just feel it is appropriate that the theme for the 36th annual parade along Fourth Street should honor the victims of Sept. 11.

"Thousands of lives were lost -- a great many of them Irish-American firefighters and police officers in New York -- and we still feel the effects of it six months since the tragedy," said Ron Hohenstein, president of the Sons of Erin and former parade chairman for three years. "But we will also have a real good time this week. Because, after all, everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day."

At no time will that be more evident than when Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman serves as parade grand marshal. Goodman has told parade officials to call him "O'Goodman" that day.

About 15 crew members and pilots of the Air Force Thunderbirds will, for the first time, ride near the front of the parade in convertible automobiles. Murphy, who is overseeing his fifth St. Pat's Day parade, said they will represent the thousands of military men and women currently fighting in Afghanistan.

The two-hour parade will begin at 11 a.m. at Fourth Street and Coolidge Avenue and will proceed north to Ogden Avenue. It will feature 120 entries, between 2,000 and 3,000 participants, six bands and 20 floats, Murphy said.

Former Sons of Erin President Thomas Lally will portray St. Patrick.

Officials estimate that 40,000 to 50,000 people are expected to view the parade that will precede the St. Patrick's Day block party in the Sahara parking lot across from the hotel on Paradise Road.

The five-hour block party will conclude a week of festivities.

Walter Dowling and the Wild Celts will perform at Jack's Irish Pub at Palace Station Wednesday through Sunday night. Brendan Bowyer and the Irish Show Band will perform at J.C. Wooloughan's on Thursday and at the block party along with Jimmy Quinn.

The Shamrocks will perform in the Sahara lounge on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday nights. A dinner dance will be 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Sahara.

The Sons of Erin was formed in Las Vegas in 1966, the year the group held its first St. Patrick's Day parade, which long has served as a fund-raiser.

This year's parade entry fees and dinner and block party proceeds are expected to raise $15,000 to $16,000 to cover expenses and assist several charitable organizations including the Boy Scouts, Nevada Children's Cancer Fund, St. Jude's Ranch, the Salvation Army and others.

The Sons of Erin has about 300 members. To become a member a man needs to be at least 21 years old and have some Irish ancestry. The initial fee is $35 and dues are $25 annually. For more information, call 450-0029.

archive