Freezing temperatures and a brisk wind couldn’t put a damper on the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Portland on Saturday. Hundreds of marchers participated, including bagpipe players, Irish step dancers and even a dapper Slugger, who traded in his traditional Sea Dogs uniform for a shamrock blazer.
Throngs of onlookers lined the route along Commercial Street watching the passing floats, bands and contingents from fire and police departments. The farthest-traveled award went to members of the Goleen Unit of the Irish Coast Guard, who marched alongside the local U.S. Coast Guard color guard.
Marchers included the Claddagh Mhor Pipe Band, Dunlop Highland Band, Kora Shriners Highlanders, the Stillson School of Irish Dance, contingents from the Maine Irish Heritage Center, Ancient Order of the Hibernians, Maine Police Emerald Society, Maine Gaelic Sports Association, The Portland Hurling Club, Girl Scouts of America, and Burns Ceili Group, as well as local union representatives and public safety officials from area police and fire departments. It ended with a rally at Bell Buoy Park followed by a reception at the Maine Irish Heritage Center that drew about 450 people. The parade has been hosted by the Irish American Club of Maine since the club was founded in 1973.
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