The 37th Annual Mahoning Valley St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held Sun., Mar. 15 beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Market St. and Roche Way and will proceed north on Market St. from to Southwoods Ave.
      “Boardman has proven to be an excellent venue for the Valley’s biggest parade. Sponsors of the Parade this year will again be the Mahoning Valley Irish Organizations, WFMJ TV-21 and the Vindicator. We are inviting you to join the Parade and 25,000 to 30,000 of the valley’s finest spectators to celebrate this family tradition,” says Casey Malone, parade director.
      The theme of the Parade this year is “For the Love of Erin”. Trophies for Best of Parade and Best Irish Theme will be awarded as well as 1st and 2nd Place. Trophies for Best Themed Float, Best Band, Best Pipe Band, Best Drum Line, Best Marching Unit, Best Novelty Unit and Best Color Guard. The trophies are awarded at the Post Parade Party held immediately following the parade at the Operating Engineers Hall on McClurg Road.
      Grand Marshal for this year’s parade is Dick Coughlin. The Ockerman Award recipient is Tom Eich, our Lord Mayor of Kilkenny is Boardman Police Chief Jack Nichols and the entire Boardman Township Police Department, The Cleary Award will honor Terry Brennan.
      The 2015 Parade will be dedicated to the memory of Past-President Timothy Mulholland.
      Leading the parade will be the Shamrock Balloon and the Boardman Spartan High School Marching Band, directed by Thomas Ruggieri.
      The Edward J. Reese Family Reviewing Stand will be near the north end of the march and located in front of Johnny’s Restaurant. Master of Ceremonies at the reviewing stand will be Casey Malone. The Shaffer Brothers will perform at the Post Parade Party where embattled Youngstown Mayor John McNally will serve as master of ceremonies.
      There will be seven bands in this year’s parade including the South Range Marching Band, the Ursuline Marching Band, YSU Pete and Penny and the YSU Band, the Steel City Ambassadors, and the Red Hackle Pipes and Drums.
      There will also be novelty units including the Aut Mori Grotto Clowns, the Captain Thomas W. Patton Camp 2021 Sons of the Confederate Veterans, the Llucky Llamas 4-H Club, the Mahoning Valley Olde Car Club, the Beaver Creek Horseman’s Association, the Struthers Little Wildcats and the Youngstown Phantom’s Hockey Team.
      All totled, there wil be approximately 150 units in the this years parade.