What may have gotten lost in the news of Hoboken’s rowdy weekend during the last St. Patrick’s Day parade is the fact that the Parade Committee commemorated their 25th Anniversary this year.
Eighty units marched in the 2011 parade, and 20 of the units were bands, making this year’s celebration the largest in the history of the Hoboken tradition, according to Helen Cunning, founder of the parade committee.
The Parade Committee started in the Shannon Lounge in 1986 under the banner of “Helen Cunning and Friends.”
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The Parade Committee started in the Shannon Lounge in 1986 under the banner of “Helen Cunning and Friends,” according to the Parade Committee’s website. Though it is widely believed that the city organizes the parade, it’s actually the job of the committee.
The committee raises money by way of an “Annual Irish Party,” which always features hot corned beef and cabbage and live entertainment, and is often held a few weeks before the annual parade. Much of the money raised is used to pay the bands, according to Bill Coughlin, a member of the parade committee.
The committee also organizes an annual Irish Mass.
Here are some additional photos from the parade.
Ray Smith may be reached at RSmith@hudsonreporter.com