West Orange’s 71st Annual West Orange’s 71st Annual
ST.PATRI CK’SDAY ST.PATRI CK’SDAY CK’SDAY
PA R A D E P
PA R A D E
MARCH MARCH 10 TH 10 TH 2024 2024
Green will be the color of the day on Sunday, March 10 as the 71st annual West Orange St. Patrick’s Day parade marches through the township.
“There’s a troop of people behind it that have done it year after year,” said Parade Committee Chairperson Michael Cunningham, who is hoping for nice weather. “All things come together. I’m lucky to have people help me out that have done this so long.”
The parade is scheduled to begin at 12:15 p.m. from the corners of Mount Pleasant Avenue and Main Street. The Parade route makes its way north on Main Street and ends at Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
It’s Cunningham’s first year as chairperson and he said one of the things that make it special is the diversity; there are marchers, South American bands, bagpipes, and even poetry.
“We’re celebrating the people of West Orange,” Cunningham said.
Growing up in West Orange, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade was Cunningham’s favorite day of the year.
“My grandfather was deputy marshal,” he said.
Patrick O’ Rourke is the grand marshal; and Dennis Cleary, Larry Lonergan, and Matthew Mulligan are deputy grand marshals.
Joseph Weil, who is an American poet and a professor at Binghamton University will be reading poetry at the
To learn more about The West
Orange St. Patrick’s Day Parade,
https://westorangeparade.com
parade. Weil grew up in New Jersey and is excited to come back.
“I miss it terribly,” he said.
Weil has fond childhood memories of West Orange. He grew up in Elizabeth and would drive to West Orange with his family to view Christmas lights as the sun was setting.
Reading at the parade, it feels to him like every one of his Irish aunts would be so proud.
“It’s a way to honor the people who raised me,” he said. “My mom, who died when I was a teen, she would be proud. She thought poetry was a hobby. This means a lot to me, in a very emotional way. I was so honored to be asked to read. My mother was from Ireland.”
Then he added, jokingly, “My father is partly German and half Irish. My aunts would call me ‘the mutt.’”
While reading at the Parade is a new experience for Weil, he’s no stranger to sharing his poetry in front of a large audience.
“I read with Allen Ginsberg back in ’95,” he said. “That audience was at the Camden Arts Center. I’ve
read at NJPAC. I love a crowd.”
What makes reading at a parade different is that the audience may not have heard poetry read aloud before. That doesn’t bother Weil though.
“I like an audience that never experienced poetry before in a certain way, seeing if I can win them over.”
Weil will be reading at the grandstand, then he’ll be driving in a limo with a police escort to Castle Rock Bar & Grill to read.
He also plans to sing some old Irish songs.
“I’m looking forward to let people know that even though my career is teaching poetry and writing books, something moved me. Everybody writes a poem sooner or later. We’re looking for something that sums up our hearts, and that’s poetry.”
Among the sponsors for the West Orange St. Patrick’s Day Parade are the Friends of the West Orange Library and the West Orange Arts Council. Frank Niccoletti is a member of both and also a member of the Downtown Alliance.
Patrick E. O’Rourke Jr was born in Glen Ridge in July of 1963, son of Patrick Sr. and Eileen (nee Kavanagh).
The oldest of three children, Lisa (his twin) and younger brother Thomas. Patrick lived in Nutley until the age of six, when the family moved to the Caldwell’s where he was raised and attended high school, graduating in 1981. Upon graduation, he continued his studies at Rutgers University Newark, School of Business graduating in 1985.
Patrick’s Parents would remarry; Patrick Sr. to Pam Moscetti, currently residing in Glen Gardner. Eileen married Joseph DiPaolo and the pair welcomed two more children, Lee and Robert (Corey) bringing the sibling count to five.
Currently living in Hackettstown, Patrick Sr.’s family arrived in America in the 1860s settling in Ironbound Newark. The family would remain in Newark for decades, eventually moving to Nutley where he was born and raised. Eileen’s Family would arrive in the U.S. around the same time.
They settled in downtown Manhattan; Eileen’s parents were raised in Pelham N.Y. and after the war moved to Bloomfield. Both families came to America during great turmoil in Ireland never expecting to go back or see their families again. At this time, we cannot locate records of their arrival or their hometowns.
Neither family forgot their Irish heritage and instilled a strong belief in their children.Patrick would meet Maria (Tsapanidis) Maxwell in 2001. They live in West Caldwell. Maria is first generation Greek and has embraced the Shillelagh Club. She has created and continues to chair the Luck O’ The Pup Pet Adoption fair held at the club every fall. This event has raised almost $50,000 for contribu-
tions to many pet-friendly organizations.
Patrick has been in the construction industry since college. He was a journeyman carpenter with Local 1342. He is a member of Local 1 I.U.E.C. Licensed Elevator Constructor in N.J., N.Y. and N.Y.C, employed by Otis Elevator for almost 25 years. Patrick earned his electrical license and has owned and operated ORuairc Electric since 2007. With hopes of retirement on the horizon. He has acquired his elevator inspectors, subcode and construction official licenses for future employment. He expects his retirement to last a week.
Patrick joined the Shillelagh Club in 2012 and became active straight away by joining the Dinner Dance Committee. Patrick was an integral force behind many of the improvements at the club including the most visible, the deck. Patrick along with Joe Kennedy set about reopening the kitchen, cooking every Tuesday and Friday night and donating all proceeds back to the Shillelagh Club. He joined the Executive Board in 2013 after being elected keeper, then progressed to becoming financial secretary and finally serving a three-year term as president, from 2017 to 2020.
During his presidency, he oversaw the latest renovation of the bar, and helped keep stability and continuity to all activities during Covid. He introduced new charities to the club and continued to highlight contributions the club was already making to the community. His focus has been and still is continued outreach to the other Irish organizations in the area believing there is more strength in numbers. Patrick is also active in the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Michael L. Delahunty Division 9 and is the current vice president. He is a proud member of the Ironbound Irish and the Irish American Society of the Oranges.
The 2024 Morning Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph's Church, West Orange at 9 a.m. on Sunday, March 10. Honorees and organizations are requested to assemble at 8:30 a.m. in the front of the church.
The Parade steps-off promptly at 12:15 p.m. from the corners of Mount Pleasant Avenue and Main Street. The Parade route makes it's way north on Main Street and ends at Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
Complimentary shuttle buses are provided to transport marchers and spectators to the starting location of the Parade at Town Hall. The buses begin boarding at 10:30 a.m. on Mississippi Avenue adjacent to Our Lady of Lourdes Church. Buses will stop promptly at 11:45 a.m. Parking is available but limited at Quigley's Parking Lot next to Mississippi Avenue and the surrounding streets.
Main Street will be closed to vehicular traffic at Northfield Avenue (south end) and Harrison Avenue (north end) from approximately 11:15 a.m. to approximately 3 p.m. Eagle Rock Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic at approximately 11:00 a.m. eastbound at Crest Drive (Eagle Rock Reservation) and to all traffic at Mountain Avenue.
Mount Pleasant Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic at Gregory Avenue, eastbound and to all vehicular traffic at Laird Drive. Ancillary streets along the Main Street corridor may also be closed as needed. Emergency No Parking signs will be placed along the Parade route and ancillary streets along the route. Vehicles in violation of parking restrictions will be ticketed and towed at the owners expense. For questions, contact the West Orange Police Department at 973-3254000
Due to an insurance rider, animals are not allowed to participate in the Parade. Service animals are exempt.
Dennis Sean Cleary grew up in West Orange, the son of Jack and Terry Cleary. The grandson of Conor and Mary Cleary who were from Sixmilebridge, a village in County Clare, Ireland.
Conor and Mary came to the U.S and settled in East Orange. Conor ran a cemetery for many years. When Conor passed away, Jack Cleary moved his mother to Chestnut Street in West Orange while Jack and Terry bought a house on Mountain Avenue.
Growing up at the top of Moore Terrace, some of Dennis’ earliest and fondest memories were walking down the hill with his brothers to watch the West Orange Parade.
Extended family and friends would come over afterward for corned beef and cabbage. Even as a kid there was nothing like the sound of pipes and drums.
Dennis went to Our Lady of Lourdes, served as Chief Altar Boy and opened up the Church for daily mass. He played PAL and Mountaintop sports.
In high school, he worked at the Lourdes Rectory answering phones and counting the collection.
He graduated from West Orange High School where he captained the basketball team under Coach Michael Fess.
He then attended his father’s alma mater Providence College where he played basketball for three years under Pete Gillen.
Not just any team, this Big East Team had legends like God Shammgod and Austin Croshere.
In 1997, this Friar team went to the Elite Eight losing in overtime to the eventual National Champion, Arizona.
Even in college, Dennis came home specifically for the parade, and began hosting Kegs and Eggs, an annual Pre-
parade event at his mother’s house.
Following College, Dennis attended Seton Hall Law School where he served as a student senator and ran the Irish American Law School Association (IALSA).
After a one-year clerkship with Judge Petrolle, Dennis was hired by the Public Defender’s Office and then started his own practice now located in West Orange.
He now lives in Roseland with his wife, Janelle, a federal prosecutor, and their three children, Jack, Claire, and Kevin.
The Clearys are active in the community and recreation sports. As a small business owner in town, Dennis supports West Orange businesses, athletics and the PBA.
The West Orange St. Patrick’s Day Parade is an institution and the best parade in the State.
He is honored and humbled to serve along with the other honorees, past and present.
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Lawrence R. (Larry) Lonergan was born on a U.S. military base in Wildeflecken, West Germany to Lawrence and Carol Lonergan (nee O’Brien) in 1964.
In 1967 the family settled in the Irish Riviera, Rockaway Beach in Queens, N.Y. Larry was fortunate to attend and graduate from Regis High School, New York City in 1982. He then attended the oldest Jesuit College in New England, the College of the Holy Cross, where he received his bachelor of arts in 1986, and then went on to obtain his law degree from New York Law School in 1992. Larry then went on to pass the bar exams in both New York and Massachusetts later that year, and was admitted to practice in New Jersey in 2007.
A blind date set up by friends brought him to the love of his life, Karen O’Connor, and the rest was history. They married in 1998 and moved to Verona where they still live more than 25 years later. Karen is a paralegal and manages the Lonergan Law Firm in Montclair. Most importantly, she and Larry raised three children in Verona, Christopher, Katherine and Bridget. Chris, 24, graduated from Bucknell University in 2021 with a chemical engineering degree and now works as a scientist for a major pharmaceutical company. Katie, 21, is a junior at the University of South Carolina and Bridget, 18, is a freshman at Tufts University.
Larry grew up with his two sisters, Kimberly and Ellen, and started his professional life working the beaches of Rockaway as a Lifeguard for the New York City Parks Departmet in the summers. After college, he stayed in Boston until he returned to join up with a childhood friend, James (Jimmy) Woods, and the two formed the Woods Lonergan
law firm in Manhattan. The firm has expanded and grown with branches on both sides of the Hudson. Woods Lonergan specializes in corporate and business law, while establishing a reputation as a dynamic and industrious law firm.
Larry has continued his love of playing basketball, and passed that passion on to his children, who he coached to championships in Verona over the years. In addition to coaching in Verona, Larry has served the community for many years in various positions and recently retired as chairman of the Verona Planning Board after a 10-year stint.
Larry’s Irish roots stem from Munster, with his mother’s family hailing from the Kingdom of Kerry and his father’s family hailing from the Premier County, Tipperary. Karen and Larry love visiting his homestead and have passed down their love of the Irish countryside to their children.
Larry joined the Essex Shillelaghs in 2003, at the invitation of long-time friend and fellow former president of the Shillelaghs, Scott Harrington.
Since then, Larry has taken on many roles on the Executive Board including the positions of keeper, vice president and then serving as president for a two-year term, wishing everyone a hearty “cilantro” at many meetings. Larry was instrumental in forming the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh Foundation in 2013, the charitable nonprofit 501-c-3 organization that is the backbone of the Club.
He also served as chairman on multiple committees and was a trustee. All the while, Larry has been the Legal Advisor (pro bono) to the Essex Shillelaghs, guiding and protecting the Club and its members. Larry was honored as Shillelagh Man of the Year in 2019.
An Irish Blessing from Our Lady of Lourdes For 2024
West Orange St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Sunday, March 10, 2024, 12:15pm Step-off
+ May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand. +
PATRICK E. O’ROURKE, 2024 GRAND MARSHAL
LARRY LONERGAN, 2024 DEPUTY GRAND MARSHAL
MATT MULLIGAN, 2024 DEPUTY GRAND MARSHAL
DENNIS CLEARY, 2024 DEPUTY GRAND MARSHAL
MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM, PARADE CHAIRMAN
@ Our Lady of Lourdes
St. Joseph / 2024 Lenten Novena - Evenings at 7PM!
This is our Lenten Retreat with nightly spiritual talks. Join us any time or every time!
7:00 pm, Monday, March 11 TO Friday, March 15
5:30 pm, Saturday, March 16, (EVENING MASS)
7:00 pm, Sunday, March 17, AND Monday, March 18
8:30 am, Monday, March 19, St. Joseph Day (Morning Mass)
7:00 pm, Monday, March 19, St. Joseph Day (EVENING MASS)
St. Joseph Table Arrangements To Be Announced
Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Est. 1914
One Eagle Rock Avenue, West Orange, New Jersey 07052 www.lourdeswestorange.org • 973-325-0110
Rev. James P. Ferry, Pastor
Rev. James N. Chern, parish weekend assistant, Newman Catholic Center, Montclair State U.
Rev. Robert K. Suszko, parish weekend assistant, Immaculate Conception Seminary, Seton Hall U.
Weekend Mass: Saturday Evening 5:30 pm
Sunday Morning: 7:30 am, 9:30 am, 11:30 am
Daily Mass: Monday – Friday 8:30 am
Confessions: Saturdays – 4:15 pm to 5:00 pm
PALM SUNDAY (March 23-24)
Saturday 5:30 pm, Sunday 7:30 am, 9:30 am, 11:30 am
HOLY THURSDAY (March 28) 7:00 pm, Adoration until 11:00 pm
GOOD FRIDAY (March 29)
3:00 pm, Reading of the Passion AND 7:00 pm, Stations of the Cross
EASTER VIGIL (March 30) 7:30 pm (SATURDAY EVENING)
EASTER SUNDAY (March 31) 7:30 am, 9:30 am, 11:30 am
Matthew Paul Mulligan Jr. was born in 1959 in Orange Memorial Hospital to Matthew Paul Mulligan Sr and Rose, and was raised as a child in Orange.
The grandson of Matthew Valentine and Gertrude Mulligan, great grandchild of Matthew H., and Mary Mulligan (Nee Morrisroe) from Frenchpark, Roscommon, Ireland. Matthew Valentine and Gertude settled in East Orange. Matthew worked as a clerk for Erie Lackawanna until his retirement in 1969. Matthew Paul Mulligan Sr. after returning from the military, being stationed in Korea during the Korean War, married Rose Spallone and settled in Orange on High Street. Matthew worked for the Orange Board of Education as a custodian for 36 years until retirement.
As a young kid, Matthew loved walking to Colgate Field for the fireworks and walking from his home to the West Orange Parade.
The West Orange Parade continues to be one of the family’s annual favorites, leaving their home with their children and walking down to the parade. A very close friend would have a gathering every parade morning at his home on Valley Way right across from Lourdes where they would eat corned beef and drink Guinness to start the festivities for Parade Day.
For many years, Matthew has worked with the parade committee, helping them secure the crane for the sign on Main Street and setting up the viewing stand at the end of the parade.
Matthew attended grammar school, middle school, and high school in Orange. Matthew loved playing sports and participated in football and baseball from PAL to high school, graduating in 1977.
Matthew married Sherrie in 1987 and
settled in West Orange, renting an apartment on Watson Avenue. In 1998, Matthew and Sherrie purchased a home on Woodside Terrace, raised three children, Matthew III, a sergeant with the Essex County Department of Correc-
tions, Amanda Lynn, manager of Lifetime Fitness in Florham Park and Ryan, project manager and safety officer for The Shauger Group, Inc. All three of Matthew and Sherrie’s children went through the West Orange School system, participated in PAL, Amanda as a cheerleader, and the boys played high school football. All graduated from West Orange High School.
Matthew is active with the Elks Organization, serving in various capacities during his 43 years as a member, including as exalted ruler and reaching the high office of district deputy grand exalted ruler in 2023. Matthew was once selected by the City of Orange Department of Cultural Affairs as Irishman of the Year, an honor he shared with his father, Matthew Sr. and was honored by Gov. Richard Codey as Citizen of the Year in 2003. Matthew is a 29-year employee of the Shauger Group, Inc. and serves as president of operations.
Matthew and Sherrie still reside on Woodside Terrace and are active with many charitable endeavors, support the Fraternal Order of Police and Police Benevolent Association and continue to assist the parade committee. Matthew is thankful to be honored, along with the grand marshal and other honorees in this year’s parade and being part of the greatest parade tradition in the State of New Jersey, The West Orange St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
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Chairperson - Michael Cunningham
Vice-Chairperson - Thomas Brennna
Treasurer - Mary Cassels
Financial Secretary - Casey Cunningham
Adjutant - Jeff Bogart
Recording Secretary - Terry McHugh
Corresponding Secretary -Casey Hughes
Sergeant At Arms - Chris Wightman
Public Relations - Carol Corcoran
Counsel - Kevin M. Brennan
Maureen O'Hara
Stephanie Gallo
Michael Tevlin
Jere E. Cole
Joseph Ryan
Fr. James Ferry - Chaplain
John McKeon - Parliamentarian
Sheila Parisi - Historian
Janet O'Keeffe-Burke
Bill Kehoe
Gwen Glazier
The West Orange St. Patrick’s Day Parade began as a parade to a parade.
The Irish-American Society of the Oranges and the Frank O’Hara Association would march south along the west side of Main Street from Our Lady of Lourdes to the present site of the old A&P parking lot. Upon reaching there, they would board buses and proceed to the Newark parade.
In 1974, however, a permit was obtained from the police department to expand the parade so the route was extended to Township Hall and it occupied the full width of Main Street.
It was also during this time that the parade was dedicated to Archbishop Thomas A. Boland, and that a reviewing stand was arranged at the West Orange Community House.
Boland’s last public appearance was at the parade in 1979 and he died just five days after the parade he loved so much.
A Parade Committee was formed in 1976 and officially incorporated in 1977. This initiative was led by the first Parade Chairman Patrick J. Melvin. It was through Melvin’s vision that the modern parade was born.
Coincidentally, Melvin died in 1996 one day after the parade and he remained an officer of the committee till the day of his passing.
The formation of the committee expanded the financial as well as the physical base of the parade. The first formal-
ized parade was held in the bicentennial year of 1976 and it has grown exponentially from its modest beginnings through the continued dedication of the committee.
The committee today is composed of many children and grandchildren of that “beginning” generation. The parade has now become the preeminent parade in the state as few can match its unique combination of dignity, class and size.
Thousands of marchers, including Irish-American groups in the area, fraternal, community and school groups, are attracted to the event. A very unique tradition of this parade is the fact that all par-
ticipants are encouraged to attend mass together as a prelude to the march.
The mass has become a beautiful part of the day as the marchers are led in by the Shillelagh Pipe Band. The mass gives the marchers pause to remember the unique intertwined nature faith plays in Irish culture and how St. Patrick brought this spiritual gift.
Due to its appeal, the location of the parade mass is rotated yearly between the parishes of Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of the Valley, Our Lady of the Lake, St. Joseph’s and Our Lady of the Lake, Verona.
The parade’s other tradition is its annual investiture ceremony. This event is the social highlight of the St. Patrick’s Day season. This is the official swearing in ceremony of the parade’s grand marshal and deputy grand marshals. The piping in and announcing of all the former parade honorees from previous years is one of the highlights of the event.
The newest honorees are presented with their sashes that day and formerly introduced as part of the “parade family.”
The parade continues to grow in size and respect as witnessed by larger turnouts of marchers, spectators, and the attendance of senators, governors, congressmen, and other elected officials. It has also grown because of the familyatmosphere that has been provided and the family traditions it has fostered.
The committee has been an innovator in improving the parade in many ways. The advent of flags, banners, posters, websites, pins, and corporate sponsorships has evolved to the point where the parade has a unique look and feel.
The West Orange parade was the first in the state to have a female grand marshal and first to have a chairwoman of its parade committee. The parade committee today continues to be progressive with a relatively young committee which features women in many of the leadership roles.
Grand Marshal Patrick E. O’Rourke
Deputy Grand Marshal Larry Lonergan
Deputy Grand Marshal Matthew Mulligan
Deputy Grand Marshal Dennis Cleary
