Welcome to the St Patrick’s Day Parade and Family Day
A Cháirde,
The 2010 Sydney St Patrick’s Day Parade and Family Day attracted record numbers, when on Sunday 21st March, over 70 floats and marching groups took to the streets of Sydney’s CBD to celebrate the bicentenary of St Patrick’s Day as an official day of celebration in Sydney.
Over 100,000 visitors and Sydneysiders gathered to watch the parade with over 30,000 joining in the revelry at Hyde Park, where international sensation Eleanor McEvoy performed, alongside local Irish bands such as Blackwater and Achtung Baby and Irish dancers from schools throughout NSW.
This day would not have been possible without a dedicated team of volunteers who make up the St Patrick’s Day Parade and Family Day Committee, along with fundraisers throughout the year and event volunteers assisting on the day. The Irish-Australian community should also be praised for showing their support throughout the year in both fundraising events and on the day itself.
Particular thanks goes to the Consul General to Ireland in Sydney, Mr Patrick Scullion. Over the years Pat has been indispensible in his role as Consul General to the Irish in Sydney, but has always gone a step further to support the Irish community here in New South Wales. This support has been shown through the time and interest he has taken to help the St Patrick’s Day Parade and Family Day. Pat has been on hand to offer advice, encourage the development of a strong cultural community and has ensured that special events celebrating our unique Irish-Australian identity will continue for generations to come.
We sincerely thank Pat for his dedication and support and as he moves to Cyprus to the role of Ambassador to Ireland in June, we all wish him all the very best in his new position. He will be a great asset to the Irish and Cypriot community alike in his new role, just as he is in Sydney.
Many thanks to all once again, for supporting the Parade and Family Day in 2010, we look forward to seeing you at various fundraising events over the coming 12 months to help make 2011’s celebrations the biggest and best yet.
Go raibh míle maith agat agus slán,
Gerard Ryan and the St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee
