Community Corner

NJ's Oldest St. Patrick's Day Parade Announces Marshals

Parade events begin on March 14 at noon at the Prudential Center in Newark.

Organizers of the Newark St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the oldest St. Patrick’s Day parade in New Jersey, recently announced Dr. John A. Brennan, president and CEO of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and the Children's Hospital of New Jersey, as Grand Marshal and Marion C. O'Neill, manager of corporate contributions for Public Service Enterprise Group, as Deputy Grand Marshal leading the parade along the emerald line in its 79th year.

The parade will be held on Friday, March 14 with grandstand ceremonies begining at noon followed by the official parade kick-off at 1 p.m.  The parade will commence on Mulberry Street at the Prudential Center, making its way past the Gateway Complex, to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, passing Military Park on Center Street, to Central Avenue leading up to St. Patrick’s Pro-Cathedral and ending in front of the Newark Museum and Washington Park. 

“We are honored to have Dr. John Brennan and Marion O’Neill lead the Newark St. Patrick’s Day Parade into its 79th year as both have distinguished themselves within their professions,” said Michael D. Byrne, general chairman, St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, Inc. “Newark was the epicenter of Irish-American life in New Jersey. A high concentration of the Irish-American immigrants first settled in Newark. As they continued spread out throughout the state, parades were established in other areas. But Newark is the original and it is still the best.  We know that Irish-Americans from across New Jersey will come out to support and celebrate this important tradition.”

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In addition to his role as president and chief executive officer of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and the Children's Hospital of New Jersey, Brennan also serves as executive vice president of Barnabas Health. He is a parishioner of St. Matthew the Apostle Parish. A resident of Randolph, he is married with three children with family roots in Counties Dublin and Kilkenny, Ireland.

O’Neill and her family are well known members of the local Irish-American community. Marion holds a B.A. in English from Montclair State and an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She serves on the Board of the Center for Nonprofit Corporations, the Board of Turtle Back Zoo, is the Chair of the Newark Museum Business and Community Council, is a member of the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers Policy Committee and the Conference Board Contributions Council. She is resigned from the Marino Fund and Mount Saint Dominic Academy Boards of Trustees. She is an active parishioner of Notre Dame Parish and is a resident of North Caldwell. She has two children with family roots in Counties Roscommon and Tipperary, Ireland.

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For more information on the parade or the associated activities of Newark’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee check on Facebook or @NewarkParade on Twitter.


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