PEORIA, Ill. – Irish spirits were high at Peoria’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday.
Parade-goers braved wind chills in the teens to pack the streets of downtown Peoria to celebrate the holiday.
Parade organizer K.C. Murphy anticipated some people saying home because of the cold temperatures, but was amazed by the turnout.
He says there were 165 entries into the parade itself this year, which is the most he’s ever seen.
“I think everybody sees what a good time it is when they’re in the crowds watching, they want to be a part of it. And we get a lot of those calls. It’s just like families that decide ‘Hey, let’s decorate the mini-van or something.’ So it’s a lot of fun,” Murphy said.
One of the groups that participated in the parade were the “Friends of Clonmel.” The group celebrates the relationship they have with Peoria’s sister city in Ireland.
“It was started by a gentleman named Leo Jordan,” says the group’s Rex Comerford. “Through those relationships, we’ve enjoyed both communities getting together, either in Ireland or Peoria, and sharing different cultures and just establishing long term relationships.”
Comerford says the “Friends of Clonmel” is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
Other parade entries included marching bands from Havana and Peoria High Schools, an Irish dance troop, and local organizations and businesses.
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