The green stripe has been painted on Salina Street. Parade-goers are getting their green on. It's time again for St. Patrick's Day Syracuse-style. The 32nd annual parade gets underway Saturday at noon, and focuses on Ireland's 32 counties and four provinces. But amid the revelry, floats, green beer, and Irish dancers is the the poster designed with a piece of Irish history.
“I was in just in Cove about a year ago January, where the first Irish immigrant left Ireland to come through Ellis Island and there’s a statue of Annie Moore and her two brothers there. So, I had images of that and so I combined the two images and the rest is just graphics.”
McCarthy says the map behind Annie Moore and her brothers shows Ireland's 32 counties and four provinces. He says his mother lived in Ireland, and he visits there once or twice a year. Enthusiasts and collectors can find the poster for sale at Annie's Hallmark on W. Genesee St. in Syracuse.
The pre-parade celebration continues this evening with the annual fundraising dinner at the OnCenter. Parade President Janet Higgins says 400 guests are expected. Saturday's festivities get underway with a mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, followed by the parade at noon. Higgins says there are 130 entries , along with hundreds of other marchers. She says they won't be collecting food along the route this year; instead, they'll raise money for the hunger project by selling stickers. More information on the celebration is at syracusestpatricksparade.org.
