The 50th Leo F. Haley St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Pottsville is fast approaching.
This year’s parade is on Saturday, March 14.
Coal Region Canary was recently granted an exclusive meeting with members of the Parade Committee and learned that the Grand Marshals of this year’s procession are Dan and Lorraine Koury.
The Kourys will be honoring and representing Leo Haley, their grandfather and founder and now namesake of the Pottsville St. Patrick’s Day Parade, who brought the idea of the parade to the city back in 1976.
“There wouldn’t be a parade in Pottsville if it weren’t for Leo,” Lorraine says. “Leo was a proud Irishman and happy to promote the Irish heritage here in Schuylkill County.”
Lorraine said she and her family have participated in “many, many, many parades” over the years in support of Haley.
Dan explains that Leo Haley returned to Pottsville after service in the US Navy and immediately became involved in the community.
And saying involved is putting it lightly. If there was an event in Pottsville, it was a sure bet that Leo Haley would be there. He was even Santa Claus in the annual parade for a number of years.
But in 1975, Haley attended the St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York City and came back with the determination to have a parade to honor the day here in Pottsville.
“He was determined to put a parade on the streets of Pottsville,” Dan says.
Haley passed away in March 2020, just about a week before that year’s parade was set to step off but was ultimately canceled due to the COVID outbreak.
When plans were made to resume the parade in Pottsville, the previous organizers, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, of which Haley was President, were unable to do it on their own so a Parade Committee formed and in the most recent years, participation and enthusiasm for the event has grown.
Dan says the parade has been “reinvigorated” now and participation is high among the organizers.
He adds that honoring Haley and keeping his vision for a parade in Pottsville is an honor.
“He was a true person of civic duty,” Dan says.
Parade Route
The Pottsville St. Patrick’s Day Parade will follow a familiar route, starting at 12th and W. Market streets.
It marches east toward 2nd St. and turns south onto 2nd St. toward Mahantongo St.
Going east on Mahantongo St. for one block, the parade makes its final stretch on Centre St. to Laurel Blvd. before ending at Pottsville Fire Co. No. 1 (formerly Humane Fire Co.).
Businesses and homes along the parade route are being asked to decorate their entrances and front porches with an Irish theme for the day.
Pottsville St. Patrick’s Day Parade Events
In addition to the parade, there are a number of special events being held in connection with the event.
On the morning of the parade, the day gets started at 8 a.m. with Mass at St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church on Mahantongo St.
From there, the Grand Marshal’s Breakfast will be from 8:30-10 a.m. at Pottsville Zone on Peacock St. The breakfast is buffet style.
Reservations for the breakfast are requested. You can reserve your spot for $15 by calling or texting Danielle Morrow at 570-449-2641.
Following the parade, the Grand Marshals Party will be held at Pottsville Fire Co. No. 1.
In addition to these events, businesses along the parade route will be having related activities. Mixx will be performing live at Good Intent Fire Co. on 2nd St.
Parade Participants and More Still Needed
The Parade Committee says this is “crunch time” for organizers. Parade participants, vendors, and sponsors are still needed.
Any groups are welcome to participate in this year’s parade, like Boy and Girls Scouts groups, sports groups, and more, says Parade Committee member Danielle Morrow. Participants don’t have to be just from Pottsville either. As the only parade in Schuylkill County now, this event is a great chance for organizations to show off their Irish pride, even if it’s just for a day.
Entry into the parade is free (as long as your float or display has some Irish decoration). Call or text Morrow at 570-449-2641 to register.
All previous Grand Marshals are being asked to contact the Parade Committee and the hope is that they’ll also come to Pottsville to march in this year’s event. A special float is being put together for them.
Funding is also a priority for the Parade Committee.
“It costs quite a few dollars to put a parade on,” Dan says, urging sponsors to come forward to support the event.
The Parade Committee says the event would not be possible without the help of numerous people at City Hall, especially the Street Dept., Fire Dept., Police Dept., and Fire Police.
“The efforts the City puts into having the parade, it couldn’t go on without them,” Dan says.
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