It was a beautiful day for Cleveland's 144th Saint Patrick's Day Parade on Thursday March 17, 2011 helping the crowd grow to several hundred thousand Irish and those who wish they were Irish.
Before the Parade, dignitaries gathered on the steps of the Bishop Cosgrove Center. Honorees included Grand Marshall Gerald M. Quinn, Irish Mother of the Year Kathleen Sheehan, Parade Co-Chairs Sheila Murphy Crawford and Fr. Thomas Mahoney and Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson.
Honoring Parade Grand Marshall Gerry Quinn
Katie Cooper sang the Irish National Anthem in Gaelic and then the National Anthem of the United States.
Fr. Thomas Mahoney said a short prayer and then Grand Marshall Gerald M. Quinn blew the whistle to begin the 2011 Cleveland St. Patrick's Day Parade.