PORTLAND – Parade goers lined Commercial Street in green wigs, leprechaun hats and shamrock sunglasses, waving small Irish flags.
On Sunday’s sunny afternoon, Portland’s annual Saint Patrick’s Parade traversed east from the Portland Fish Pier to the enthusiasm of hundreds of attendees. The parade, hosted by the Irish American Club of Maine, has celebrated Irish-American culture for over 30 years and keeps getting bigger.
“There’s a lot of energy,” said Jason Dobbins, 55, who stood on the curb in a tall leprechaun hat and shamrock patterned leggings.
He and his wife, Kristin Dobbins, 53, came to Portland for the weekend from South Thomaston for the St. Patrick’s Day festivities. On Saturday, they joined crowds in the Old Port for an on-theme pub crawl. They were sure to get up and find a viewing spot for Sunday’s parade, despite staying out “way too late.”
“If it’s fun, we want to do it,” said Kristin Dobbins, who had a rainbow temporary tattoo on her cheek.
In this year’s spectacle, the Claddagh Mhor Pipe Band walked down the street in kilts blasting bagpipes and drums. Irish American Club members waved flags of the counties of Ireland. The Maine Maritime Academy’s midshipmen regiment marched and played their tunes, followed by Dunlap Highland Band and multiple tractor trailers inching along the route representing the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
St. Patrick himself, decked in shimmering green robes and a pointed hat, strolled Commercial Street, waving to the crowd. As did Batman, Ghostbusters and Star Wars characters also walking in the parade to the equal excitement of young attendees.
Brigitte Kearney walked in the parade with her 1-year-old son Wilder and her sister-in-law Amy Harder, whose 2-year-old daughter’s stroller was also decked in green. Kearney’s father, Bob Kearney, is the lead organizer of the parade and has been involved for decades with the Maine Irish Heritage Center.
“It’s a lot of work, and he’ll start planning for next year tomorrow,” said Kearney, 40, who has been participating in her father’s parade project since she was in college.
At the end of the parade, young dancers from the Stillson School of Irish Dance performed their elaborate steps, claps and high kicks for the rapt audience in front of Ri Ra Irish Pub and Restaurant.
Sisters Clementine and Hattie Muller, 6 and 8, danced in the parade finale in their orange and black athletic uniforms. Clementine’s favorite dance is the light jig, a movement performed in soft shoes that focuses on gracefulness.
“It’s just fun to do,” she said, her poof of faux curls towering atop her head.
The sisters have a busy week of Irish dance ahead, with multiple dance performances just on Tuesday, which is St. Patrick’s Day. Not having Irish heritage themselves, the Mullers found the dance school two years ago through the Cape Elizabeth Community Services after-school program.
“We just kind of signed up because it looked like something fun to do. And our girls kind of really took to it,” said their father, Wiley Muller.
As the crowd came together, decked in green, parade participants and attendees emphasized that celebrating Irish culture is for everyone, not just those with Irish heritage.
“I’ve got some Irish in me,” said Kearney. “But you don’t need any either. It’s just part of that community feeling.”