Maplewood Residents to March in St. Patty's Day Parade

Two Maplewood residents are serving on the 78th Newark St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, organizers of the oldest St. Patrick’s Day parade in New Jersey. The residents will participate in the city’s 78th St. Patrick’s Day Parade, on Friday, March 15 at 1:00 p.m. beginning outside The Prudential Center. 

The parade will be led by 2013 Grand Marshal Patrick C. Dunican Jr., Esq., chairman and managing director of Gibbons P.C. law firm in Newark and Deputy Grand Marshal, Eileen P. Gilleece, Detective Sergeant First Class with the New Jersey State Police. 

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 pleased to have Patrick Dunican and Eileen Gilleece lead the Newark St. Patrick’s Day Parade in its 78 year,” said Michael D. Byrne, General Chairman of the event. “We hope Irish-Americans in the City and across the state will continue support our parade as it continues to grow. We are looking forward to another great year.” 

Dunican is chairman and managing director of Gibbons P.C. law firm, a position he was elected to in 2004 at the age of 36. Among Patrick’s many roles, he serves on the Board of NJPAC and the Board of Advisors of the Irish American Bar Association of NJ. Deputy Grand Marshal Gilleece, is a Detective Sergeant First Class with the New Jersey State Police. She is past president of the Women of Irish Heritage and was honored as Irishwoman of the Year by the Friends of Brian Boru in 2010. 

The Parade will be dedicated to Terence “Terry” Pellegrino, on the first anniversary of his passing. Pellegrino retired from the Paterson Fire Department with the rank of Battalion Chief and was a veteran of the Essex County Police and Fire Emerald Society Pipes and Drums. He was also a member of the West Orange Elks Lodge #1590 and the West Orange Chapter of the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh. 

For more information on the parade or the associated activities of Newark’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, please contact publicity chair, Brian M. Lowe of BML Public Relations at 973-337-6395or blowe@bmlpr.com.