St. Patrick’s Day festivities adjusted due to covid
By Robert Cloud
Melissa Mulroy with the Shamrock Club of New Dublin spoke to the New London Common Council about changing the city’s name the week of March 15-20.
Noting that all of last year’s events celebrating St. Patrick’s Day were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mulroy said her organization plans to hold some, safer events this year.
While there will be no Grand Parade or Irish Fest, the Shamrock Club will host its annual Irish Entertainment and Dignitary Appreciation Night at 7 p.m. Friday, March 19, at Crystal Falls banquet hall.
The event will recognize Irish Man and Irish Rose, Bob and Terri Murphy, Grand Marshall Dorothy Neilson, Irish Lad Jake Flocker and Irish Lassie Jasmine Villalobos, according to the Shamrock Club’s website.
Seating will be arranged to allow for social distancing, and masks will be required per state and local mandates.
The Shamrock Club plans to have Leprechaun Day on Monday, March 15, when leprechauns change the city’s name to New Dublin.
Tuesday, March 16, is Hooligan’s Day, when corned beef and cabbage is served during the week at Pup’s Irish Pub and Pine Tree Supper Club on State Highway 54 in North Dublin (Northport) and other restaurants such as The Waters, Hilby’s and Family Diner.
“In our little city, about one-quarter of the population hails from the Emerald Isle and the rest of you can be Irish for a week,” Mulroy told the council.