Annual New London St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The Annual New London St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place on Sunday, March 17, 2024, The parade’s theme is, “Everyone Is Irish for a Day” This event is sponsored by the City of New London, the Downtown New London Association and produced by Neff Productions.

This year’s parade will consist of local bands, civic groups, Irish civic organizations, and youth groups. The parade starts at 1pm sharp and will kick off at the corner of Bank and Tilley Streets, proceed north on Bank Street, turn left up State Street and then proceed onto Washington Street. The route this year is approximately ¾ of a mile and is more compact than the previous parade routes in the city, which provides greater viewing for the public. The review stand will be at Parade Plaza, located at the corner of Bank and State Streets.

PARKING

Water Street Garage– 160 Water ST – New London
Safe, Secure, Clean & Convenient! 24/7 (Across the Street from the Train Station & Ferry Terminal)
Governor Winthrop Garage – 70 Union Street, New London
Municipal Lot – Eugene O’Neill- The City of New London has Municipal Lot that are open to the public.

In addition the committee is pleased to announce that this year’s Grand Marshal will be Francis Edward Charles McLaughlin, Jr (Frank!).

Frank’s grandparents immigrated from Castlederg (about 60 miles west of Belfast), County Tyrone, in Northern Ireland. Charles and Hanora McLaughlin came to the US at the turn of the century. Charles McLaughlin served in the US Army in the Spanish American war, and then worked shoveling hops in a brewery. Hanora was a cleaning woman. They lived in a two room apartment in a four story tenement in Philadelphia. During his high school years Frank’s father was sent back to Ireland for schooling.

Frank and his wife Lynda (who was born in New London) traveled to Ireland in 1968 to honeymoon and while there, he was reunited with his relatives in County Tyrone. He also managed to actually kiss the Blarney stone…and it worked!