St. Patrick’s Day Parade brought out crowds, Irish pride and corned beef

The temperature was low, but the turnout was large at the Mid-Hudson St. Patrick’s Day parade in Greenwood Lake on Sunday. Grand Marshal Thomas Mulcahy led the parade, and County Executive Steven Neuhaus announced Mulcahy as March’s “Citizen of the Month.”

March is Irish-American heritage month, an apt time to recognize Mulcahy, who is proud of his Irish roots and devoted to Greenwood Lake. Mulcahy emigrated to Greenwood Lake from Ireland in 1969 when he was 19, then later lived in the Bronx and Rockland County. Nine years ago he returned to Greenwood Lake. Mulcahy has been a member of the Greenwood Lake Cultural Society since its inception and was honored as Celt of the Year in 1986. Mulcahy was recognized for his dedication to a variety of activities and events in the Greenwood Lake community.

Mulcahy has been a member of the GWL American Legion Arthur Finnegan Post 1443 for 48 years and served as its commander from 2019 to 2021. He is a member of Holy Rosary Parish in Greenwood Lake. Mulcahy helped his brother Denis start Project Children in 1975. He served in the NY Army National Guard from 1970 to 1984 and was an emergency services mechanic with the New York Fire Department from 1980 to 2006. He lives in Greenwood Lake with his wife Nora, and they have four children and seven grandchildren.

After the parade, the Finnegan Fling party at the GWL American Legion provided corned beef sandwiches, drinks and dancing to the music of Big Paddy Band. The emcees were George Anderson and Jack Graham. Orange County Firefighters Fife and Drum Corp., who had marched in the parade, also played for the overflow crowd.

American Legion Commander Gerry Brewer presented Mulcahy with a large engraved plaque for his work and devotion to the Legion and Greenwood Lake community. Sons of the Legion presented Tom with a large engraved Celtic cross with American and Irish flags displayed on the sides. Also attending the parade and party was GWL Mayor Jesse Dwyer, Warwick Town Supervisor Michael Sweeton and County Executive Steven Neuhaus. The organizer and chairman of the Legion party was Duke Hoffman.

Photos and story by Ed Bailey