Dublin Parade Amazes Crowd with Oil Barons, Broadswords, and NYC Cops on St. Patrick’s Day

Dublin saw a relatively sober St Patrick’s Day parade this year, with city retailers voluntarily banning the sale of alcohol until 4 pm. However, many clouds had silver linings, reflecting perhaps the first pandemic restriction-free festive weekend since 2019. Performers from Macnas, Junk Kouture, Dublin Pride, Spraoi, and the Inishowen Carnival, as well as traditional marching bands from the US and Canada, took part in the parade with the theme of ‘Mar a chéile sinn – we are one.’ The Republic of Ireland Women’s Football team was represented by manager Vera Pauw, squad member Diane Caldwell, and pioneering former Irish international Paula Gorham. Festival director Richard Tierney hailed the parade as the best yet. Actor Patrick Duffy, of Dallas fame, was also present for the festivities. Despite the alcohol curtailment, some visitors noted a lack of public drinking on the streets, while New York police officer Zhana Krot believed the Dublin parade surpassed the one in New York in enthusiasm if not in size.