The Glen Cove St. Patrick's Day Parade

Celebrating Irish Culture on the North Shore

Come to our “Hooley” Jan 11, 2014

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The Presentation of Sashes to our Parade Grand Marshal for the 2014 Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade, John O’Connell, and his Aides, will take place on Saturday, January 11, 2013 at 7pm at St. Rocco’s Parish Hall, located at 18 3rd Street, Glen Cove, NY, followed by a real Irish “hooley”.

We had the idea of having a “hooley” last year, and it was a wonderful time.  It’s like an old fashioned Irish house party, very informal and a lot of fun.   We are asking everybody to bring your own food, bring your own beverages, AND to bring your own entertainment!”  (and also to bring $20 for the parade).

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Music breaking out at a hooley!

The “Hooley” is a fun word for the very lively, informal type of house party Irish people enjoy.  It’s a tradition that dates back in Ireland and Irish America to the days before recorded entertainment, before radio and TV.  It still lingers among people who understand how much fun it can be for friends and family to entertain each other.

The party centers around the idea of the “party piece”.  A lot of people come to the party prepared with at least one party piece of entertainment – a song or a tune on an instrument, a stepdance, a poem, a recitation, or a joke or story to tell – for the enjoyment of everyone at the party.

Anyone can take a turn, or join in with someone else, or just listen.  It’s a great way to get to know your friends and neighbors.

A hooley might break out spontaneously anytime friends are gathered at a neighbor’s house, usually in the kitchen, where everyone can share the food and drink brought along by the guests.

Update:  A lot of talented people are  joining us tonight and bringing their “part pieces”!  Kevin Westley’s going to sing, so is Joe Sullivan with his guitar.  Lugh dePaor’s going to sing in Irish and is bringing his guitar and uilleann pipes and whistle; Jim Hawkins the Irish storyteller is coming, Patrick Shields will play the fiddle, bodhrán and whistle (and sing!). John McManus will sing and bring his pipes;  Mary Lilly’s going to lead an Irish sing-along and play the whistle;  Joe McDonald’s going to sing and play the box. Maura Lynch will sing in Irish, so will Shelia Webster, and play the melodeon, Conor and Kieran Lynch (it’s his 21st Birthday!) will play;  Robert Lynch will play and Andy Stafford is sure to sing.

Click here for an event flyer

Sash Presentation Jan 11

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The Presentation of Sashes to our Parade Grand Marshal for the 2013 Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Danny Lane, and his Aides, Lisa Forgione,  Bob and Pam Pazenbeck, and Joe McDonald, will take place on Saturday, January 26, 2013 at from 6pm to 7pm at St. Rocco’s Parish Hall, located at 18 3rd Street, Glen Cove, NY, followed by a “hooley” from 7pm to 11pm!  (see below)  Click here for an event flyer

We are doing something special this year:  we are planning to replicate an old-fashioned Irish house party, called a “hooley” which is very informal and a lot of fun.   We are asking everybody to “bring your own food, bring your own beverages, AND to bring your own entertainment!”  (and also to bring $20 for the parade). 

musicians2

Music breaking out at a hooley!

“Hooley” is a fun word for a very lively, informal Irish house party.  It’s a tradition that dates back in Ireland and Irish America to the days before recorded entertainment, before radio and TV.  It still lingers among people who understand how much fun it can be for friends and family to entertain each other.The party centers around the idea of the “party piece”.  A lot of people come to the party prepared with at least one party piece of entertainment – a song or a tune on an instrument, a stepdance, a poem, a recitation, or a joke or story to tell – for the enjoyment of everyone at the party.

Anyone can take a turn, or join in with someone else, or just listen.  It’s a great way to get to know your friends and neighbors.

A hooley might break out spontaneously anytime friends are gathered at a neighbor’s house, usually in the kitchen, where everyone can share the food and drink brought along by the guests.

Click here for an event flyer

Newsday: 2013 Glen Cove Parade Honors Danny Lane, 89, Nicholas Pedone, 7

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Newsday, Sunday March 17, 2013 6:46 PM      By Frank Posillico

Glen Cove parade Grand Marshal Daniel J. Lane,

Photo credit: Frank Posillico Glen Cove parade Grand Marshal Daniel J. Lane, right, is joined by Grand Marshal Aide Lisa Forgione, left. Lane is being honored after a lifetime of work as an Irish activist. (March 17, 2013)

A parade procession and about 80 years were all that separated the grand marshal and honorary grand marshal at the 25th annual Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday.Grand Marshal Daniel J. Lane, 89, a lifelong advocate for Irish culture and awareness, led the parade, and Honorary Grand Marshal Nicholas Pedone, 7, who was diagnosed with cancer last fall, sat in the fire truck that brought up the rear.

Parade organizers said both marshals show what it means to have a fighting Irish spirit.

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“This community seems to amaze me every day,” said Josephine Pedone, Nicholas’ mother, adding that Nicholas is still in and out of hospitals for treatment. “We just roll with the punches and Nicholas’ smile on his face as he goes through this torturous journey in his life.”

Josephine Pedone, of Glen Cove, was surprised and happy to have her son, who is fighting neuroblastoma, a malignant tumor that forms in nerve tissue, serve as the honorary grand marshal in the parade because she hopes he brings more awareness of his disease. The Glen Cove Fire Department picked up Nicholas and his father toward the end of the parade route, and they rode in the fire truck for the remainder of the parade.

Joe McDonald, an aide to the grand marshal, said that naming Lane grand marshal was an honor long overdue. He has been a resident of the Glen Cove community for most of his life, has served on multiple town boards and committees and has always been active in his Irish culture. He was one of the first members of the Inis Fada Pipers’ Band.

He hails from Ballydesmond in County Cork, Ireland.

“We never have a shortage of someone to honor,” Joe McDonald, an aide to the grand marshal, said. “It’s a celebration of our Irish culture.”

McDonald, who has been working with the parade for the past seven years, said he feels honored to march alongside a man like Lane.

“It’s a thrill to walk down the street and hear the cheers of your friends and neighbors all celebrating your heritage,” Lane said. “It’s a celebration of Glen Cove. It’s a celebration of heritage and culture.”

Joseph McDonald, 2013 Aide to the Grand Marshal

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2013 Aide to the Grand Marshal Joe McDonald

2013 Aide to the Grand Marshal Joe McDonald

Life is full of chances and many times a chance meeting or event can be life changing.

That is what happened with 2013 Aide to the Grand Marshal Joe McDonald.

Back in 2002, a chance event allowed him to acquire the Mets Online Fan Forum, allowing him to break into the sports industry and as a byproduct, learn web designing and development.  Two careers were spawned from that, as the former stockbroker became a professional sports writer and a web developer.

Then in 2007  a chance meeting with Glen Cove Hibernians led Joe to joining the Mike Moran Division eventually leading to an AOH tenure where he served as Division President, the first Online Editor of the Hibernian Digest, and in his current positions as National, New York State and Nassau County Webmaster.

Chance has always been part of Joe’s life.  It started with his birth on March 28, 1970, he was put up for adoption at Our Lady of Victory Homes in Lackawanna, NY.  Three months later, Joseph Benedict McDonald and Catherine Ann (nee Cleary) McDonald took a chance and adopted baby Eric, renamed him Joseph Gerard, and moved him to Bay Ridge Brooklyn.

Joe was raised in the Borough of Churches, graduating from Our Lady of Angels Grammar School in 1984, Xaverian High School in 1988 and then Fordham University four years later.

Joe took a chance in 2004, moving to Long Island from Brooklyn, looking for a change from city life.

Another chance was taken in 2010 when then National Editor Keith Carney in 2010 asked Joe to design the first Online Hibernian Digest in AOH history.  Joe’s Division Presidency, from 2011 to 2012 saw not only the naming of the first-ever two National Life Members from Division 8, but also the naming of two Division members, he and John O’Connell, to the AOH National Board.

As National Webmaster, Joe built the first online national application, first online national division directory, the first national social media pages, and is overseeing the building of the new AOH member management system.  He has also provided web design for a large number of other Irish organizations and businesses.

Being part of the AOH has allowed Joe to get in touch with his Irish roots. At the age of nine, he played his grandfather’s Irish button accordion and picked up that instrument again a few years ago.  He has won prizes for his music at Feiseanna and also an award winning Irish soda bread, taking second place this past year at the Nassau County Feis.

The risk taking paid off for Joe, since he was able to build two businesses.  As a sportswriter for the last nine years, Joe has worked for Fox Sports, ESPN, New York Sportscene, the Blueshirt Bulletin, Tennis Now Magazine, and his own company, Sportsday Publishing.  He has, covered such high profile events as the MLB Playoffs, the World Series, the US Tennis Open, the US Golf Open, and the Stanley Cup.

Applying his web design expertise, Joe opened Damocles Designs Web Services and has a growing business in that industry.

The biggest chance effecting Joe’s  life was taken by Elizabeth (Liz) Curtin, who married Joe and they have two children Joseph Patrick, age nine and four year-old Jamie Ann.  They live in West Hempstead, NY – Liz’s hometown  – and attend St. Thomas the Apostle Church.

2013 Glen Cove Parade

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The 25th Annual Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place on Sunday, March 17, 2013.

St.. Patrick’s Day in Glen Cove this year will be even more special than usual for two great reasons.  The first is that Glen Cove gets a rare chance to hold its St. Patrick’s Day Parade on St. Patrick’s Day itself, since the Manhattan parade is held on Saturday when St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Sunday.  The second is that this year’s Parade will be the 25th Annual parade since its inception in 1989.  During that time the Parade, always a dazzling event, has grown to be the premier St. Patrick’s Day celebration on the North Shore and the largest annual parade in Glen Cove.

This year’s Grand Marshal is renowned Irish activist and Sea Cliff resident Daniel J. Lane.  He will be accompanied by Aides Robert and Pamela Panzenbeck, Lisa Forgione and Joseph McDonald.

The Parade begins to form up at 12 noon in the area of the Finley Middle School on Forest Avenue.  It steps off at 1pm, following the usual route through downtown Glen Cove to St. Patrick’s Church.  There is very ample parking in the municipal garages and at the end of the parade route.  Click here for more information on the parade route and directions.

The backbone of the parade, as always, will be its exciting mix of marching groups, including many bands of Irish pipers.  Further color will be added to the festivities by vintage cars, costumed performers, face painters, fire and police units and much more.  The parade is a true community celebration of the coming of Spring with many of our areas ethnic organizations, often in costume, taking part.  Come, join the fun!

For more information about the parade, please visit www.glencoveirishparade.org or call 516-782-7494.

 

Glen Cove 2009 Parade

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The 2009 Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade was led by Robert P. Lynch as Grand Marshal and Barney Lough as Aide. The parade was followed by a luncheon at Page One Restaurant in Glen Cove.

2009 Grand Marshal Robert P. Lynch with children Conor, Maura and Kieran.

After Parade Ceremony from AOH Division 8 on Vimeo.

Parade News

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Parade Photos

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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. Grand Marshal’s Mass March 15, 2026

    March 15 @ 11:00 am

  2. Grand Marshal’s Brunch March 15, 2026

    March 15 @ 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

  3. 2026 Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade

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

  4. 2026 After-Parade Party

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

View All Events