New London’s annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration turned 35 last week.
The Shamrock Club of New Dublin stuck to the community’s favorite traditional Irish-themed events for the six-day party, which ran from March 18-23.
The festivities included Hooligan Day, Irish caroling, Irish Entertainment Night, the Friday night ceili and Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day Grand Parade and Irish Fest.
John Paters and Kay Mielke were the Irish Man and Irish Rose, respectively. “Melvin the Wacky Wheeler,” Rob Summerbell, was the parade grand marshal.
The Shamrock Club announced the parade award winners this week. The Ken Ritchie Memorial received the Grand Marshal Award, the Manawa marching band was the best musical entry, the Crain clan earned the best non-commercial entry award and Canadian National Railway landed the commercial entry award.
The 2020 celebration is tentatively scheduled for March 16-21 with the same lineup of events.