Irish pride shines through dreary weather in Kings Park
Kings Park held annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade March 3 led by Grand Marshal Father Sean Gann, the pastor of St. Joseph’s Church in Kings Park.
Despite the threat of rain and chilling winds, Kings Parks residents lined the streets to celebrate the area’s Irish heritage — whether they were Irish or merely Irish for the day.
There parade featured bagpipe bands, floats, marching groups and a special tribute to Gann as it’s marshal. Gann’s mother, Mary, immigrated to the United States from St. Mullins, County Carlow, in Ireland at age 12 to live with her aunt in Kings Park, according to the parade’s website.
Gann has served as a chaplain to the Suffolk County Police Officer’s Emerald
Society, whose pipe band marches first in the Kings Park parade each year.
The parade was started in 2011 by Kevin “The Professor” Denis, owner of Professor’s Diner in Kings Park as a way to celebrate the area’s Irish cultural roots.
