A year after COVID closures, NKY bars, restaurants prepare for St. Patrick s Day
A year ago Tuesday, local bars and restaurants had to close their dining rooms on the eve of St. Patrickâs Day. Now, theyâre ready for one of their busiest days of the year, though it may look different than celebrations past.
and last updated 2021-03-17 10:06:04-04
COVINGTON, Ky. â A year ago Tuesday, local bars and restaurants had to close their dining rooms on the eve of St. Patrickâs Day. Now, theyâre ready for one of their busiest days of the year, though it may look different than celebrations past.
Multitudes of people usually line Fifth Avenue for New York s St. Patrick s Day parade, which traces its roots to the 1760s. AP Photo
NEW YORK: A largely virtual St. Patrick s Day was planned for New York City on Wednesday, one year after the annual parade celebrating Irish heritage became one of the city s first coronavirus casualties. Although the city s usual huge parade with floats and marching bands was canceled, Mayor Bill de Blasio joined parade leaders and several dozen National Guard troops in marching up Madison Avenue early Wednesday morning to keep the tradition alive. A live broadcast of the St. Patrick s Day Mass at St. Patrick s Cathedral took place. A virtual parade featuring clips of marching groups from past years was to follow at 10 am, according to the parade organizers website, and an hour-long show streaming on Facebook at 11 am included performances by singers Andy Cooney and Moya Brennan.
It s one of my favorite days to work for sure, exclaimed bartender Xana Lindsay.
Lindsay added, It s great to see everybody. My St. Patrick s Day tradition is sitting right at that spot at this bar every St. Patrick s Day since Kildare s opened, said Kevin Daniel Maggs of West Chester.
Bar service is not allowed yet, so Maggs could only sit at a high top table near that spot at the bar.
This year, there are obvious precautions in place, including lower numbers. I see a lot of social distancing. The tables are separated, a lot of people wearing masks when they walk around, and it makes me feel like I m safe, said Travis Barron of West Chester.
CHICAGO A group of Irish immigrants formed The Shannon Rovers in 1926 to bring the beloved music from their homeland to the Windy City.
The Rovers began as a fife and drum band, with only a handful of players. Not long after, they switched from playing fifes, to bagpipes.
Now, they boast well over 70 members.
When former Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley launched the annual Chicago St. Patrick s Parade in 1956, one key part of the agreement, was that The Shannon Rovers would lead the parade - every year!
They ve become famous in the Windy City and have played all over the world. They ve even played for seven sitting presidents and the pope.