An article was printed in the Sunday edition of the Daily State News concerning the cancellation of the Dover St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the reaction of disappointment from the Irish Society of Delmarva (“Irish Society disappointed with canceled parade”). There is no doubt about it: We, as an Irish society, definitely appreciate your acknowledging our sentiments. However, we also feel the necessity of sharing the history of the parade and the impact it has on communities.
St. Patrick’s Day parades can be traced back to the mid-1800s or before but, most prominently, the mid-1800s. It was during that time that Ireland suffered a major catastrophe with the potato blight and the Great Famine. It was also during this time that Ireland saw a large exodus of people, 2 million of whom migrated to the United States and, with that, the tradition of St. Patrick’s Day parades and the legend of St. Patrick himself. Taking a sidestep, it was St. Patrick who converted Ireland to Christianity, with the shamrock being instrumental in teaching the Trinity — the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. St. Patrick’s Day parades soon became a very popular tradition, not only with the Irish but for the community, as well. They proved to be an excellent way to bring people together.
Moving forward some 150-plus years — St. Patrick’s Day parades are still major events, and the city of Dover is definitely no exception. The parade affords our community an opportunity to unite, have fun and enjoy those participating in the parade and each other. The city opens up with vendors, food trucks and exposure to our shops and restaurants. As participants, we always enjoy the smiles on the spectators’ faces, as we move through the city, and obviously, the spectators are enjoying us. All this was denied to everyone this year with the cancellation of Saturday’s parade. However, an important lesson is to be had: We must always remember to learn from history, not live it. There are 12 months left before our next St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and we have all the faith in the world that the powers that “be” will remedy the problem, and we will all be enjoying the procession in March 2026.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day.
Robin Engstenberg
President, Irish Society of Delmarva
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
