The 49th Annual Pottsville St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off Saturday, March 15, at noon.
This year, the parade has been named in honor of Leo F. Haley, a Pottsville man who was very proud of his Irish heritage. Haley was the Ancient Order of Hibernians JFK Divison #2 President from 1966-2020.
As the story goes, Haley attended the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 1975 and became determined to have similar parade in Pottsville. The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade was held in the city the following year.
The 2025 St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off at noon from 12th and W. Market streets. It follows a familiar path, east to 2nd St. and then onto Mahantongo St. to Centre St. and Laurel Blvd. before ending at Humane Fire Co., N. 3rd St. and Laurel Blvd.
Grand Marshal
This year’s Grand Marshal is Mary Ann Lubinsky, the National President of Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians. She’s in her 31st year as an active member of the JFK Division #2 LAOH, first joining in October 1994 and serving that organization as historian, vice president, division president, and immediate past-president.
Lubinsky has been serving as National LAOH President since August 2024.
She is also a Lector and Eucharistic Minister at St. Clare of Assisi in Saint Clair and is cemetery administrator of 10 cemeteries, including 7 at her home parish.
Lubinsky worked for 17 years in the state Dept. of Public Welfare and in her retirement focuses on her hobbies in websites and genealogy. She is coordinator of several Ireland genealogy sites like those for County Derry, Donegal, Laois, Mayo, Monahan, and Sligo. She’s also webmaster for PAGenWeb Project and USGenWeb Archives.
Lubinsky is the widow of Edward P. Lubinsky and mother to two sons, Edward L. and Kevin F. She’s also a grandmother of two, Elise M. Lubinsky Fegley and Anna C. Lubinsky. She also has one great-granddaughter, Mavylee Louise Fegley.
Pre-parade Activities
Parade day starts with an 8 a.m. Mass, followed by the 2025 Grand Marshal Breakfast at Pottsville Zone, Peacock St. Distinguished honorees at the breakfast include members of Pottsville Fire Dept.: Asst. Chief Chuck Baures, Capt. Kurt Shelhammer, Tom Biddle, James Blake, Jarett McCabe, and Stan Sabol.
Those Fire Dept. members are being recognized for their actions at an apartment fire in May 2024.
Parking Restrictions and Road Closures
The parade will force several road closures in Pottsville on Saturday and restrict parking in other areas. Parking restrictions go into effect at 9 a.m. and road closures will start at 10:45 a.m.
The staging area for the parade will be on W. Market St. from 12th to 14th St., and on N. 12th St., from the unit block to the 100 block.
Roads will be closed at:
- W. Market St. (from Centre to 14th streets)
- N. 12th St. (from W. Race to W. Norwegian streets)
- Centre St. (from Howard Ave. to Laurel Blvd.)
- Laurel Blvd. (from 4th St. to N. Centre St.)
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