Officials set earlier start time for March 16 South Boston parade

By Cassidy McNeeley
Reporter Staff

South Boston’s annual parade, a dual celebration of St. Patrick’s Day and Evacuation Day that will kick off on Sun., March 16, will begin an hour-and-a-half earlier than past years as elected officials and parade organizers attempt to curb the unruly behavior that has marred the event in recent years.

The parade will commence from its customary starting point by Broadway MBTA station at 11:30 a.m., according to state Sen. Nick Collins and City Councillor Ed Flynn, who both called for reforms to the parade after a string of assaults, overcrowding, and other incidents along and near the parade route last year.

In a statement to The Reporter, Collins said, “The parade will be starting earlier this year in an attempt to get a better handle on the tomfoolery. Last year, there were regrettable moments at the parade that we don’t want to see repeated this time around.” 

Flynn will serve as the parade’s general chairman and the chief marshal is Allana Devlin Ball, a South Boston native who is a retired US Navy Lt. commander.

“Following last year’s unacceptable violence and public drinking at the Evacuation Day Parade,” said Flynn, “I convened a monthly meeting and task force with the South Boston elected officials, South Boston Allied War Veterans Council and city and state agencies, including the Boston Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, MBTA Transit Police, and the Boston Parks Department, among others.

“This task force and partners in the community have met multiple times since then to prepare and discuss public safety for all and restore a family-friendly environment at this year’s parade.” 

The parade will follow its traditional route, up West Broadway from near the T station and onto East Broadway to City Point. Marchers will then turn at P street to East 4th and head back west, ending on Dorchester Street at Andrew Station. 

Flynn added this note about the proceedings on March 16: “I have made it a priority to ensure that the focus of the parade returns to Evacuation Day and honoring our veterans, military families, first responders, as well as our proud immigrant history and families that came to our city in search of a better life. 

“As the City of Boston is down approximately 130 officers this year, law enforcement will collaborate with neighboring jurisdictions to ensure that all visitors respect the rule of law and the people of South Boston. I expect all visitors to respect the rule of law and act accordingly. It is critical that we ensure a family-friendly event to honor our veterans and military families.”

The parade will be preceded by the traditional St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast, which once again will be hosted by Sen. Collins, who says the breakfast will begin at 9 a.m. and be televised on NECN, NESN, and BNN-TV and on the radio at 950 AM. Featured guests will include federal, state, and local elected officials, military officials, and a special guest speaker from the Irish government, Peter Burke, the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism, and Employment. The 42-year-old Doyle is a native of Mullingar who has served as an elected member of the Dail since 2016.

Collins said he expects Boston’s still-developing mayoral election will be the center of much attention and jabs at the breakfast. “The mayoral race is on everyone’s mind,” he said Collins, who noted that “the enthusiasm from volunteers, participants, and sponsors has shone through” as he prepares for this year’s breakfast. 

The celebrations surrounding the St. Patrick’s Day and Evacuation Day holiday requires months of planning and unfold over several weeks in and around South Boston. The festivities began on March 1 with the annual Jimmy Flaherty Kickoff Breakfast at Seapoint Bar & Grill. The days following included competitions in the boxing ring at Peter Welch’s Gym, on the Tynan School basketball court, and at the Murphy Skating Rink. 

On Wed., March 12, Councillor Flynn, along with his council colleagues Erin Murphy and John Fitzgerald of Dorchester, will host an Irish flag-raising ceremony open to the public on City Hall Plaza at 10:30 a.m. 

On March 17, the day after the parade, Flynn and Collins said they will take part in the Evacuation Day historical exercises at Dorchester Heights, the National Park site where colonial troops under the command of Gen. George Washington took up a fortified position that prompted British forces to leave Boston under the threat of an artillery bombardment in 1776. 

Collins, along with community members will meet at the South Boston Boys & Girls Club Auditorium and then walk to the base of Dorchester Heights to lay a wreath. The day begins with a 9:15 a.m. Mass at St. Augustine’s chapel.

Other events planned in Southie in March include the annual Tom & Eddie Butler St. Patrick’s Senior Salute at the Curley Community Center on Sat., March 8, at 11 a.m., which is followed by a boxing tournament at Peter

Welch’s Gym (doors open at 11:30 a.m.). On Sun., March 9, from noon to 3 p.m., it’s the Pop Lynch Bowl-A-Rama at South Boston Candlepin. (Must be 21 to attend.) On Tues., March 11, a swimming competition at the Edgerley Family Boys & Girls Club will start at 6 p.m. The Murphy Skating Rink will be the scene for an “Ice-O-Rama” event on Wed., March 1,2 at 6 p.m. The James F. Condon School will host an athletic competition on Thurs., March 13, 4 p.m. On Friday, March 14 from 4-8 p.m., it’s the Timothy “Doc” Cook Shamrock Showdown at the Murphy Rink. The evening of March 14 is also the time of the South Boston Citizens Association 145th Evacuation Day Banquet at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.

On Sun., March 16, the Edgerley Family South Boston Boys & Girls Club St. Patrick’s Day 5K Road Race starts at 9:30 a.m.

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Day, dates for other St. Patrick’s Parades 

Sat., March 1 – Pawtucket, RI, at noon

Sat., March 8 – Cape Cod, 11 a.m.; Providence at noon 

Sat., March 15 – Newport, RI, 11 a.m.

Sun., March 16 – South Boston, 11:30 a.m.; New Haven, 1:30 p.m.; Worcester, noon; Abington, 1 p.m.; Scituate, 1 p.m

Mon., March 17 – Dublin, Galway, Cork, Sligo et al, Ireland

Sun., March 23 – Holyoke.

Sun., March 30 – Manchester, NH.

Information courtesy of BITA-Boston Irish Tourism Association