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The 2012 Parade will be held on Saturday, March 10, 2012
9:00 am - The Thornstick Mass in conjunction with the Elizabeth A.O.H.
St. Patrick's Church, Elizabeth
A welcoming reception in the church hall after Mass
12:00 Noon - Reviewing Stand Festivities
Morris & Stuyvesant Avenues in Union

The "Kid's Zone" fun for all ages --- Stuyvesant Ave.(just off Morris Ave.)

1:00 PM Sharp - The Parade begins
The Marching units gather at Morris Avenue and along Commerce and Jeanette Avenues,
the parade route proceeds east along Morris Avenue to a turn at the Main Reviewing Stand
and ends at Roosevelt Avenue

Midway Reviewing Stand
Morris and Caldwell Avenues in Union
Parade Announcers with Details of all of the Participants!
History and Information!
A great place to watch the parade!

Click Here for 2011 Line of March Here
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Union County St. Patrick's Day Parade
2012 General Chairman
Michael J. Panella



Michael was born in Newark to Gerald and Ellen Panella (nee-Gilmartin).  Michael and his family have lived in Union for 17 yrs.  He has been married to Mary (nee-Kelly) for 26 years and is the proud father of 3 sons Tim, Sean and Michael.  His son Tim and daughter-in-Law Karen have recently made Michael and Mary proud grandparents as well, with the birth of Aidan John, born on July 4, 2011.

His mother’s family hails from the County Roscommon.  His grandfather Sean (John) Gilmartin immigrated to the United States in the late 1920’s at the age of 21.  He later married the former Mary Ellen Norris.  In 1933, he was a founding member of THE BRIAN BORU IRISH PIPE BAND, the first band of its kind in New Jersey.  They marched in the very first Newark St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  His uncle, Donnie Gilmartin is a founding member of the Essex County Emerald Society Police and Fire Pipes and Drums and the Newark Firefighters Pipe Band. 

Michael continues to keep the family tradition alive.  From 1988 until 1995 he had been an Assistant Adjutant in the Newark Parade.  In the Union County Parade he has served as Assistant Adjutant, Adjutant and now as the General Chairman.  He is a founding member of the Irish American Society of Union and served as their Treasurer for 5 yrs. He is a 25 yr member of the Giblin Association, a member of the Cryan Association, Joseph Nugent, Sr. Association and the Union Knights of Columbus #4504. He served 7 years in the US Navy SEABEES, the Naval Construction Battalion.  Michael and Mary have always been proud of their Irish heritage and have striven to instill that pride in their children and now, their grandchild.  Being named General Chairman of the Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade is an honor he will always be proud of.
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Union County St. Patrick's Day Parade
2012  Grand Marshal
Bill Dugan




UNION — The 2012 Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee has elected Bill Dugan of Clark to be Grand Marshal of the 16th annual parade.

 Elizabeth Police Lt. Bill Dugan has been involved with the parade since its inception and leads the skilled motorcycle officers of the traffic unit that have been instrumental each year assisting the parade committee with logistics.

 “On parade day I will be celebrating my heritage and my wonderful family,” Grand Marshal Dugan said. “Having my wife and children sharing this day by my side will be most fulfilling.” An Elizabeth native, Dugan traces his Irish roots on his father Daniel’s side to County Wicklow. His mother Mary Jane’s people hail from counties Antrim and Cork. “I know my father’s Irish eyes will be shining down on me from heaven,” he added. “I humbly dedicate this great honor to my mother, Mary Jane Colgan Dugan, the greatest Irishwoman I have ever known!” Parade day will be a family day for Dugan as well as a celebration of his Irish heritage. He is looking forward to sharing the day with wife Carol, daughter Alison, and sons Ryan and Daniel as they march down Morris Avenue.

Dugan will be officially installed as Grand Marshal during the parade committee’s annual Investiture Mass at St. John the Apostle Church in Linden on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 3 p.m. The church is located at 1805 Penbrook Terrace. A reception will follow at the Clark Volunteer Emergency Squad, 875 Raritan Road in Clark. Admission to the reception is $30 per person.

The parade will step off at 1 p.m. sharp on Saturday, March 10, 2012 on Morris Avenue in Union.
For more information, visit  www.unioncountystpatricksdayparade.com

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2011 Grand Marshal Dave Bell


NJ State Trooper David Bell Is Named Grand Marshal of 2011 Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The 2011 Union County Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Committee proudly announces David Bell
of Fanwood has been named Grand Marshal of the 15th Annual Union County Saint Patrick’s Day Parade.

New Jersey State Police Detective Sgt. Bell has been involved with the Union County
St. Patrick’s Day Parade for more than a decade and helped organize the division named
after his friend, the late State Trooper Thomas J. Hanratty. This year’s parade is dedicated
to the New Jersey State Police.

"Aside from my children being born, this is one of the truly great honors of my life,”
Grand Marshal Bell said. “I am proud and humbled to lead the tribute to St. Patrick
here in Union County.”

An Elizabeth native, Bell traces his Irish roots to Counties Mayo and Roscommon in the West
of Ireland and has been of a member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick for 20 years.

“We are thrilled to have Dave leading us in our celebration of our Irish heritage,”
said Marylou Lenahan, 2011 Parade General Chairwoman. “Especially since we are dedicating
this year’s parade to the State Police on their 90th anniversary.”

Parade day will be a family day for Bell as well as a celebration of his Irish heritage.
He is looking forward to sharing the day with wife Kathie, daughter Jennifer, and sons Thomas
and Ryan as they march down Morris Avenue.
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A Look Back at 15 years of Union County St Patrick's Day Parade
http://www.blip.tv/file/4748706