The Glen Cove St. Patrick's Day Parade

Celebrating Irish Culture on the North Shore

Press Release: Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade, March 22, 2026

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The Glen Cove Saint Patrick’s Day Parade has been scheduled for Sunday, March 22, 2026, at 1 pm.  Founded in 1989, the parade is the premier St. Patrick’s Day celebration on Long Island.  It occurs each year on the Sunday after St. Patrick’s Day and is a joyous first sign of Spring for Long Islanders and visitors.

The 2026 parade’s grand marshal is John Cronin, an award-winning entrepreneur, inspiring public speaker, and passionate advocate for people with differing abilities. Born with Down syndrome, John created his own path by co-founding John’s Crazy Socks, John is spreading happiness and showing what people with differing abilities can achieve. His joy is contagious — and purposeful — and his story inspires audiences worldwide. 

John serves as Chief Happiness Officer and the heart of the brand. He’s also the co-founder of Abilities Rising, a movement-building venture that champions inclusion through storytelling, employment, and joyful business.

The Aides to the Grand Marshal are dedicated local Hibernians Eileen Petrucci Flanagan and and Marianne Fleischer.

After paying the Parade’s expenses, all surplus funds raised through our fundraising efforts are donated to charity. Grand Marshal John Cronin has chosen the ACDS Foundation as our beneficiary this year. Based in Plainview, ACDS provides a lifecycle of services with the goal of helping individuals develop to their fullest potential. 

The Parade begins at 12 noon in the area of the Finley Middle School at Forest Avenue and Dosoris Lane in Glen Cove. It steps off at 1 p.m. and proceeds through the streets of downtown Glen Cove. There is ample parking at Glen Cove’s downtown municipal parking garages, and parking will be available at St. Patrick’s lot on a first-come basis.  A shuttle bus will circulate through the parking, formation, and spectator areas.

An After-Parade Party takes place at St. Patrick’s Parish Hall at the end of the Parade route.

As always, the heart of the parade will be its exciting mix of marching groups, including bands of Irish pipers and other musicians, vintage cars, costumed performers, fire and police units, and much more. The parade is a true community celebration, with marching groups from the Irish and the many other ethnic groupings of our community participating. Everyone is invited to join the fun!

The Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade receives NO public or municipal financial support.  It depends solely on tax-deductible corporate sponsorship and individual donations to the Glen Cove Parade Committee Inc.  Please visit glencoveparade.com to review tax-deductible support opportunities. 

For more information, please visit the parade website at www.glencoveparade.com, call or text 516-782-7494, or email anpiobaire@aol.com.  The Glen Cove Parade Committee, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) charitable corporation, and all contributions are tax-deductible.

John Cronin, Grand Marshal, 2026 Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade

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John Cronin is an award-winning entrepreneur, inspiring public speaker, and passionate advocate for people with differing abilities. Born with Down syndrome, John created his own path by co-founding John’s John’s Crazy Socks with his father, Mark. What began as a small e-commerce store in 2016 has become a global brand that spreads happiness, breaks barriers, and creates jobs.

John serves as Chief Happiness Officer and the heart of the brand. He’s also the co-founder of Abilities Rising, a movement-building venture that champions inclusion through storytelling, employment, and joyful business.

The first person with Down syndrome to receive the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award, John has shared his story with audiences around the world, including the United Nations, the U.S. Congress, and Fortune 500 companies. His powerful message is grounded in lived experience: inclusion isn’t charity — it’s possibility.

John’s talks blend humor, heart, and a deep belief in human potential. Whether giving a keynote, leading a warehouse tour, or dancing at his weekly Zoom parties, he reminds us that the most meaningful change often starts with joy.

He’s not just changing lives — he’s changing minds.

 

Grand Marshal’s Mass and Brunch March 15, 2026

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As is our annual tradition, the organizers of the Glen St. Patrick’s Day Parade gather with the Grand Marshal and the Aides to the Grand Marshal to celebrate Mass (11:00 am at St. Patrick’s Church, Glen Cove) on Sunday,March 15, 2026, a week before the Parade followed by brunch in their honor.

Click here to learn about the Grand Marshal’s Mass, 11:00 Sunday, March 15, 2026 at the Church of St. Patrick, Glen Cove.

Click here to learn about the Grand Marshal’s Brunch after Mass, Sunday, March 15, 2026 at the Downtown Cafe – 4 School Street, Glen Cove, NY 11542.

Eileen Flanagan Petrucci, Aide to the 2026 Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade

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Eileen Flanagan Petrucci, Aide to the Grand Marshal
2026 Glen St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

A native of Glen Cove, Eileen Flanagan Petrucci is the youngest daughter of the late Marion and William Flanagan. She grew up surrounded by family, faith, and community, values which have guided her through life. She was a devoted sister to the late Robbie Flanagan Venturino and the late Patricia Flanagan, and her strong family bonds have always remained central to who she is.

In 1973, Eileen graduated from St. Patrick School, where her mother, Marion Flanagan, proudly served as assistant to the principal until 1972. During her years there, Eileen was actively involved in school life, participating in the St. Patrick’s Majorettes and CYO Cheerleading under the direction of her mother and Jane Hannett. She attended St. Mary’s Girls High School from 1973 to 1977, where she was a member of the gymnastics team.

Eileen attended SUNY Delhi, where she earned an Associate’s Degree in Business in 1979. She began her professional career working as an office manager, secretary, bookkeeper, and medical assistant for Dr. Lawrence Mollick, Dr. Kenneth Etra, and Dr. Richard Etra until 1993. Eileen returned to the medical field as a medical assistant for Dr. Edward Hill from 1992 until her retirement in 1995.

Eileen is the proud mother of three daughters: Beth, born in 1988, and twins Meagan and Nicki, born in 1991. She later became the loving grandmother of four grandchildren—Lauren (2018), Bryce (2019), Maddy (2022), and Maverick (2024).  They are her constant source of joy and pride.

Eileen remained deeply involved in her children’s school community, serving on the Locust Valley Elementary Parents Council from 1993 through 2002. A lifelong sports enthusiast, she is an avid fan of the New York Islanders and New York Yankees and a former member of the Islanders Booster Club.

Her dedication to Irish heritage and community service is reflected in Eileen’s involvement with the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAOH), which she joined in 2018. She served as Sentinel from 2019 to 2021, Vice President from 2022 to 2023, and President from 2024 to 2025. Eileen also chaired the LAOH Dinner Dance for two years and has generously supported numerous events, including the AOH Golf Outing, AOH Feis and Festival, and the St. Patrick’s Lenten and Fish Fry. She is also a member of the Irish American Society of Nassau, Suffolk, and Queens.

Eileen Flanagan Petrucci’s life reflects devotion to family, pride in her Irish heritage, and a lifelong commitment to community service—qualities that truly embody the spirit of the Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Marianne Fleischer, Aide to the 2026 Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade

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Marianne Fleischer, Aide to the Grand Marshal
2026 Glen St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Marianne Fleischer’s grandparents settled in Queens after arriving in the U.S. from County Cork. Her father was a judge, and her mother a school principal. Marianne attended High School of Music & Art and The Cooper Union in Manhattan, as well as Brooklyn College, where she graduated with honors. She went on to work for the New York City Board of Education as a teacher and a supervisor.

Marianne and George Fleischer have three children and five grandchildren. She was a CCD teacher at Good Shepherd Parish in Brooklyn, became the President of LAOH Division 15 in Whitestone, Queens, and President of the LAOH Queens County Board.  When she and George moved to Oceanside, Marianne joined the Kiwanis Club as Sunshine Club head. I became President of The Ladies Auxiliary of The Knights of Columbus and President of the LAOH Division 17.  She serves as Nassau County Board Historian and as Journal Chair for the Nassau County Feis Committee.

Marianne has attended the New York State and National conventions annually and has marched in the Glen Cove and New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parades.  She was honored as the Woman of the Year in both Queens and Nassau Counties and as an Aide to the Grand Marshall at the Long Beach Irish Day Parade.  Marianne worked closely with The AOH in an effort to exhume the bodies of Irish freedom fighters from prison jails for proper burial in Ireland.

The Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade thanks Marianne for the honor of joining this year’s Parade as Aide to the Grand Marshal.

Joe McDonald, Grand Marshal 2025 Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade

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JOSEPH MCDONALD, GRAND MARSHAL
2025 GLEN COVE ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

Joe McDonald, born Eric Marc Barrett on March 28, 1970, to Colleen Barrett of Erie, PA, has had quite a journey. Adopted at three months by Joseph and Catherine McDonald of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, Joe grew up alongside his older brother, Marty. While he spent his early years in Brooklyn, Joe has called Long Island home for the past 15 years. Over that time, he’s lived in Massapequa, West Hempstead, and now Deer Park. He also runs his business in Franklin Square.

Joe’s career spans multiple fields, but he’s perhaps best known for his 15 years as a sports reporter. During that time, he had the chance to cover some of New York’s most significant sporting events, like the World Series, Stanley Cup Finals, and US Open Finals. His passion for sports journalism led him to write columns about the Mets and Major League Baseball for NY Sports Day, a website he founded in 2004 and sold in 2020. He also worked as the managing editor of NY Sportscene Magazine and was assistant editor at Mets Inside Pitch Magazine.

In addition to his sports career, Joe spent 12 years running a web development business and another 15 years as a financial consultant. His broad professional experience made the transition into real estate a natural fit. For the past eight years, Joe has worked as a loan and title closer, and today, he’s an agent with Berkshire Hathaway. In his real estate role, Joe is all about helping both sellers and buyers. He works closely with sellers to get their properties market-ready and secure the best price possible, while for buyers, he’s skilled at finding the right homes and negotiating the best deals.

Outside of his professional life, Joe is deeply involved in the Irish community. He’s been a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians for years and played a key role in growing the Mineola Division. His dedication has earned him leadership roles, including chairing conventions and serving as Chairman of the Long Island Irish Fest, an annual event in Franklin Square. He is Vice President on the Nassau County Board and previously sat on the National and New York State Boards. In 2015, he was honored as Aide to the Grand Marshal of the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and in 2013, he had the same distinction with the Glen Cove Parade.

Joe’s community involvement doesn’t stop there. He’s also a member of the Sons of Italy in Deer Park, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick on Long Island, and the Irish American Society of Nassau Suffolk and Queens.

Joe is proud to share his life with his two children, Joseph and Jamie, and his partner, Alicia Louisa. His strong commitment to his family, career, and community reflects his well-rounded approach to life.

Irene Abrams, Aide to the Grand Marshal, 2025 Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade

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Irene Abrams, Aide to the Grand Marshal
2025 Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Irene Abrams was raised with her six siblings in Woodhaven, Queens. Her parents, Irene and Peter S. Roggemann, Jr., settled near where they grew up next door to each other. Her maternal grandparents, Loretta Hughes and Frank Smith, met in New York after they emigrated to the U.S. Her maternal grandmother, Theodora Burke, is the Great-Granddaughter of Peter Ulich Burke, who was born in Birr, County Offaly, in 1898. Peter became a Medical Doctor, opened a clinic for poor Irish people, and wrote curricula for Catholic schools. Peter followed his sons to Utica, NY, and also wrote Catholic school curricula there. Theodora Burke went to Normal School, where she was trained as a Primary Grade Teacher.

Following the Burke tradition, Irene became an educator and taught English Literature at Christ the King H.S. in Queens. After receiving her MS in Special Education from Fordham University, she was appointed by the New York City Department of Education to teach Special Education classes at Montauk Jr High in Brooklyn and then at Seward Park H.S. in Manhattan. She earned her Professional Degree in Educational Administration from Hunter U. and was appointed to Grover Cleveland H.S. in Queens as Assistant Principal, Special Ed. In 1993, she became Assistant Principal at Queens Vocational H.S. and then at Bayside H.S.

Irene moved to Glen Cove in 1996 while still working at Bayside High School. She joined parish life at both St. Rocco’s and St. Patrick’s. After she left the NY City Board of Education, she continued working as a consultant to charter schools to ensure that programs for students with special needs were not overlooked.

Irene joined the LAOH in 2013, when she made her Degree. She volunteered for many Committees and held the appointed Offices of Grievance Officer and Education & Immigration. In 2024, she was elected as a Grievance Officer.

Sean Basdavanos, Aide to the Grand Marshal

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Sean Basdavanos
2025 Aide to the Grand Marshal

Sean Basdavanos is honored to serve as an Aide to the Grand Marshal for the 2025 Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade. A dedicated member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), Sean served as President of the Glen Cove Division from 2021-2023, as Vice President from 2018-2020 and is currently the Treasurer since 2023. During his presidency, he was instrumental in founding the Glen Cove Hibernian Golf Outing, a beloved annual event at the Glen Cove Golf Course.

Sean’s dedication to the AOH is deeply personal, as his grandfather, Michael Moran, was honored by having the Glen Cove Division 8 named after him, one of the highest honors the division can bestow. Sean continues to carry on his family’s legacy of service and community involvement.

In addition to his work with the AOH, Sean has had a distinguished career in public service. Since 2014, he has worked at the City of Long Beach Water Purification Plant, where he is now a Senior Plant Operator. Throughout his career, Sean has served as both Shop Steward and Safety Coordinator, advocating for his colleagues and ensuring the safety and efficiency of the plant.

Sean is also an active member of the Men’s Glen Cove Golf Club and enjoys skiing in his free time. Outside of his professional and community work, Sean is a proud husband to Allison Basdavanos and a father to two sons, Odin James and William Arthur. He is the son of Maureen and William Basdavanos and the grandson of Michael and Mary Moran.

As an Aide to the Grand Marshal, Sean’s contributions to the community, his dedication to preserving his Irish heritage, and his commitment to service make him a true asset to the Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Press Release: Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade March 23, 2025

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The Glen Cove Saint Patrick’s Day Parade has been scheduled for Sunday, March 23, 2025, at 1 pm.  Founded in 1989, the parade is the premier St. Patrick’s Day celebration on Long Island.  It occurs each year on the Sunday after St. Patrick’s Day and is a joyous first sign of Spring for Long Islanders and visitors.

The 2025 parade’s grand marshal is Joe McDonald, well-known for his successful involvement in fields as varied as sports journalism, website development, and real estate. Joe is deeply admired for his many accomplishments in promoting the social and cultural activities of  Long Island’s Irish community. The Aides to the Grand Marshal are dedicated local Hibernians Irene Abrams and Sean Basdavanos.

After paying the Parade’s expenses, all surplus funds raised through our fundraising efforts are donated to charity. Grand Marshal Joe McDonald has chosen the Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club as our beneficiary this year. The club is a neighborhood-based facility designed for youth programs and activities that have served underprivileged youth and families in the greater Glen Cove Community since 1903.

The Parade begins at 12 noon in the area of the Finley Middle School at Forest Avenue and Dosoris Lane in Glen Cove. It steps off at 1 p.m. and proceeds through the streets of downtown Glen Cove. There is ample parking at Glen Cove’s downtown municipal parking garages, and parking will be available at St. Patrick’s lot on a first-come basis.  A shuttle bus will circulate through the parking, formation, and spectator areas.

An After-Parade Party takes place at St. Patrick’s Parish Hall at the end of the Parade route.

As always, the heart of the parade will be its exciting mix of marching groups, including bands of Irish pipers and other musicians, vintage cars, costumed performers, fire and police units, and much more. The parade is a true community celebration, with marching groups from the Irish and the many other ethnic groupings of our community participating. Everyone is invited to join the fun!

The Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade receives NO public or municipal financial support.  It depends solely on tax-deductible corporate sponsorship and individual donations to the Glen Cove Parade Committee Inc.  Please visit glencoveparade.com to review tax-deductible support opportunities. 

For more information, please visit the parade website at www.glencoveparade.com, call or text 516-782-7494, or email anpiobaire@aol.com.  The Glen Cove Parade Committee, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) charitable corporation, and all contributions are tax-deductible.

 

 

 

 

 

Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club Named as Major Charitable Beneficiary of Glen Cove Parade

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Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club Named as Major Charitable Beneficiary of Glen Cove Parade

The Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade receives NO public or municipal financial support.  We depend solely on business and corporate sponsorship and individual donations to the Glen Cove Parade Committee Inc.  All parade expenses are paid in this way, and all amounts collected in excess of those expenses are donated directly to carefully chosen charities.

After payment of the Parade’s expenses, all surplus funds raised through our fundraising efforts are donated to charity.  

After paying the Parade’s expenses, all surplus funds raised through our fundraising efforts are donated to charity. Grand Marshal Joe McDonald has chosen the Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club as our beneficiary this year. The club is a neighborhood-based facility designed for youth programs and activities that have served underprivileged youth and families in the greater Glen Cove Community since 1903.

  1.  Business and Corporate Sponsorship.  Please click here to learn more.
  2.  Our Commemorative Journal – your ad will support the parade, honor the Grand Marshal and Aides, and assist our charities.  Please click here to learn more.
  3.  We also welcome individual donations from our generous supporters.  Click here to learn more.

Note:  The Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade is organized and conducted by Glen Cove Parade Committee Inc., a charitable corporation and is a non-profit organization pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. Your donation to the parade may qualify for an income tax deduction in accordance with Federal and/or State income tax laws. Please consult with your tax adviser to determine whether your donation is tax deductible in whole or in part. Nothing in this communication is intended to constitute legal or tax advice.

Parade News

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The Glen Cove St. Patrick's Day Parade is run by Glen Cove Parade Committee, Inc., a 501 (c) (3) charitable corporation, formed in the tradition of the Glen Cove Hibernians, who founded the Parade in 1989.

Upcoming Events

  1. 2026 Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade

    March 22 @ 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

  2. 2026 After-Parade Party

    March 22 @ 2:30 pm - 7:00 pm

View All Events