Proclaiming the Month of March in 2024 as Irish Heritage Month in the City of Philadelphia and Honoring the St. Patrick's Day Observance Association of Philadelphia.

WHEREAS, The 252nd Philadelphia Saint Patrick’s Day Parade will take place on March 10, 2024; and

WHEREAS, The first documented Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in the City of Philadelphia took place in 1771; and

WHEREAS, The Parade, from its inception, was meant to celebrate freedom from tyranny and oppression of the Irish People and culture; and

WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia has one of the oldest, largest, and most active communities of Irish anywhere in the United States and across the globe; and

WHEREAS, Irish immigrants and their descendants have played a critical role in the history of the City from culture, business, sports, civil rights, labor, politics, and food; and

WHEREAS, Thousands of spectators lined the Parkway this year to enjoy the Parade; and

WHEREAS, Philadelphians and others through the region celebrated at the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, on Saint Patrick’s Day, and throughout the month of March 2024; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby proclaims the month of March in 2024 as Irish Heritage Month in the City of Philadelphia and honors the St. Patrick’s Day Observance Association of Philadelphia for their work in furthering the heritage of the Irish diaspora in the City; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Saint Patrick's Day Observance Association of Philadelphia as evidence of the admiration and respect of this body.

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