The Cleveland, Ohio Saint Patrick's Day Parade is set for the off on the big day itself, March 17 and its theme is one of celebrating "250 Years of Irish and Irish-American Contributions to the Land of the Free."
The United Irish Societies, said a release, will be honoring the 2026 St. Patrick’s Day Parade Honorees: Grand Marshal Thomas J. Mackin, Irish Mother Midge Gannon, Parade co-chairs Bob Crawford and Donna Leary.
Grand Marshal for the 2026 Parade is Thomas J. Mackin, an active member of the Parade Committee serving as one of the Director Emeritus. He served as Executive Director 1992-1995, Deputy Director andDelegate from the West Side Irish American Club. Last year, he was presented with the Raymond “Rip” and Mary Reilly Memorial Director Emeritus Award.
Said the release: "Tom is an active member of the Irish Community with membership in the following: Ancient Order of Hibernians, West Side Irish American Club and the United Irish Societies of Greater Cleveland. Tom is a member of St. Christopher in Rocky River.
"The 2026 Irish Mother of the Year is Midge Gannon. Midge and her husband Brendan are the proud parents of 3; John, Patrick and Marian. and the proud grandparents of 5; Maeve, Fiona, and Conall Gannon and Colin and Gavin Wright. Midge is very active in the Irish Community with membership in the West Side Irish American Club, McNeeley Library, Pioneer Total Abstinence Association and serves as a Delegate to the United Irish Societies of Cleveland. She was recognized as the 2014 Woman of the Year by the West Side Irish American Club, in 2009 Person of the Week by the Sun Newspapers and along with her husband they were recognized as Pioneer Couple of the Year. The Gannons are parishioners of St. Patrick West Park where she was very active in the Altar and Rosary Society."
The parade co-chairs are Bob Crawford and Donna Leary.
"Bob Crawford is very involved in the Irish Community with membership in the Cleveland Feis Society, Irish American Club East Side, Murphy Irish Arts Association, West Side Irish American Club and the United Irish Societies. Bob and his wife Sheila live in Mayfield Heights and are parishioners of St. Dominic.
"Donna Leary is active in the Irish Community with membership in the Cleveland Feis Society, Irish American Club East Side. Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Mayo Society and the West Side Irish American Club. She serves as a Delegate of the United Irish for the Brady Campbell School of Irish Dance. Donna resides in the West Park neighborhood of Cleveland and is a parishioner of St. Mark."
The Parade will assemble between East 18th and Superior to East 22nd and Superior. The National Anthems of Ireland and the United States will be sung at 1 p.m. by Kathleen Cooper Schmitt. The Parade will step off at 1:04 p.m. with the Ceremonial Blowing of the Whistle by the Grand Marshal.
The Cleveland St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the release concluded, is one of the oldest traditions in the State of Ohio and the single largest attended event in the City of Cleveland. More at pro@stpatrickdaycleveland.com or www.stpatricksdaycleveland.com.
