Green’s the Thing at Alexandria St. Patrick’s Parade (photos)
By • March 4, 2019 One Comment 2817
Green was the thing as the 38th annual Ballyshaners St. Patrick’s Parade in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, kicked off at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 2. Thousands of spectators lined King Street to witness pipe bands, Irish step dancers, military marching units, civic organizations and local scout troops. There were over 100 parade units in all.
With the cancellation (for cost reasons) of this year’s St. Patrick’s event in Washington, D.C., the parade across the Potomac River has morphed into the largest Irish heritage celebration in the metropolitan area.
The Ballyshaners, a nonprofit organization that promotes Irish heritage in Alexandria, organizes and hosts the annual event. One of the earliest St. Patrick’s parades in the nation, it takes place on the first Saturday in March. While Alexandria hosts several parades, this was the only one to travel down the city’s main artery, King Street.
Following the parade, many were seen headed to nearby Irish restaurants to enjoy green beer and haggis.
View Jeff Malet’s photos of the Alexandria St. Patrick’s Parade by clicking on the photo icons below.
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- The Shriner Highlanders Band (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Julia Friedman, of the O’Neill-James School of Irish Dancing (Falls Church, Va.) (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- The U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard was one of several military units represented at the parade. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Elizabeth McCully and her dog Finbarr of the Colonial Newfoundland Rescue group. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- The Foley Academy of Irish Dance (Reston Va.) (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Charles Stulb marched for the National Greyhound Adoption Program. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- The boys of the O’Neill-James School of Irish Dancing (Falls Church, Va.) (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Susan Ruge Engles of the Zebra Press. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- The O’Neill-James School of Irish Dancing (Falls Church, Va.) (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Director Laureen O’Neill-James of the O’Neill-James School of Irish Dancing (Falls Church, Va.) posing with Maeve Korves who was celebrating her 8th birthday. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Jay Malone of the NYPD Emerald Society (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Millie (age 10), Juliette (8) and Caroline (8) enjoy the 38th annual Ballyshaners St. Patrick’s Day Parade (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Ian Hargreaves of the Bavarian Dance Group Alt Washingtonia holds an alphorn. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Siblings Leighlyn, Revere and Shetlynd of the Irish step dance group ShamrockRs. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Eric Parkhurst as Eggy the clown of the Kena Shriners. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- The Hard Times Cafe float. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- The Knights of Columbus. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Realtor Pat Garrity is part of the leadership team at the 38th annual Ballyshaners St. Patrick’s Day Parade. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- The City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums march down King Street. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- The City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums march down King Street. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- The 28th Massachusetts Civil War Reenactors Irish Brigade. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Shawn P. McLaughlin is the Grand Marshal at the 38th annual Ballyshaners St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Old Town Alexandria Va. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Members of the 5th Battalion Dublin Brigade march down King Street. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Members of the 5th Battalion Dublin Brigade march down King Street. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Emery (age 5), Addison(9) and McKenna (11) enjoy the 38th annual Ballyshaners St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Old Town Alexandria Va. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- The Foley Academy of Irish Dance (Reston Va.) (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- The William Ramsay Cheerleaders. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- The Bolivian Dance Troupe Tinkus de San Simon Virginia. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Veterans ride their motor cycles. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Star Wars characters march in the parade. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Mom Annie Counihan , Kelcie and grandmother Marybeth enjoy the 38th annual Ballyshaners St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Old Town Alexandria Va. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- The Kena 500 is a unit of motorized mini corvettes. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- The Pipes and Drums of the NYPD Emerald Society. Photo by Jeff Malet.
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- The NYPD Emerald Society. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Murphy’s Irish Pub of Alexandria Va. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- The Maple Academy of Irish Dance. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Anna (left), Sasha, Ella and Brielle of the Girl Scouts of Alexandria Va. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Girl Scout Troop 53099 marches. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Girl Scout Daisies. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Cecilia (age 5) and the Girl Scout Daisies march in the 38th annual Ballyshaners St. Patrick’s Day Parade. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Fiona Counihan enjoys the 38th annual Ballyshaners St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Old Town Alexandria Va. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- The Washington, D.C. Rose of Tralee, Michelle Margaret Karkos. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- The Bavarian Dance Group Alt Washingtonia marches with alphorns. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- The Northern Virginia Firefighters Emerald Society Pipe Band. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- St. Patrick marches ahead of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America (Virginia). (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- The Notre Dame Alumni Band marches past the reviewing stand. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Politicians, civic leaders and the Irish Ambassador watch from the reviewing stand. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Valentina (age 20 months) rides in the Toddler Miss Virginia float. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Kat Tracy of the Butlers and Fitzgeralds Gaelic Lords of Ireland is in period costume. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- The Boyle School of Irish Dance (Manassas Va.) finish the parade. (photo by Jeff Malet)
Last I checked, haggis was Scottish not Irish fare…