St. Patrick’s Day parades are upon us!

Dust off your favorite green shirt from the back of your closet, grab your bagpipes, and get ready to shake your shamrock! The highly anticipated John P. Reilly St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Bay Shore-Brightwaters St. Patrick’s Day Parade are right around the corner!

John P. Reilly St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The 59th annual John P. Reilly St. Patrick’s Day Parade in East Islip, organized by the Local Hibernians Inc., will be held on Sunday, March 3 at 2 p.m. The organization upholds the tradition of holding the parade on the first Sunday of March, in honor of the parade’s founder and chairman John P. Reilly, who began the parade in 1966. The parade will begin at the East Islip Public Library and proceed down Main Street, ending at Irish Lane.

Leading the parade will be lifelong resident of the Town of Islip and president of Division Seven of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, grand marshal Shawn O’Neill, who was chosen for his devoted service to America’s oldest Irish Catholic Fraternal Organization and for living out the A.O.H motto: “Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity.” The grand marshal will be joined in his procession by the ladies aide to the grand marshal, Mary Phalen, and the LAOH Suffolk County Walking in the Footsteps of St. Brigid honoree Maureen Connors. O’Neill, Phalen, and Connors were honored at the Grand Marshal Ball at Captain Bill’s in Bay Shore on Saturday, Feb. 24.

Bay Shore-Brightwaters St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The Bay Shore-Brightwaters St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be on March 9 at 2 p.m. The parade route is 1.6 miles on Main Street, beginning at South Saxon Avenue, moving westward to North Clinton Avenue.

Fr. Sean Gann of St. Patrick’s Church in Bay Shore was bestowed the honor of grand marshal for his compassion and active involvement in the communities he serves, in and out of the church. Since his ordination in 1994, Fr. Gann has touched the lives of parishioners throughout Long Island, and he has served as chaplain to the Suffolk County Police Emerald Society, the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, the Suffolk County Police Pipe Band, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians.

Fr. Gann will be honored at the sold-out Grand Marshal Installation Cocktail Party at Captain Bill’s Bayview House on Friday, March 1.