Irish Channel, New Orleans, ready to celebrate 2019 St. Patrick's Day

The Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Committee was organized in the Irish Channel in 1947. The current president of the organization is Richard (Dick) Burke, Jr. (son and nephew of two of the organizers; Dick and Paul Burke).

Enduring years of change in the Irish Channel Neighborhood, the organization has survived and this year plans to parade with the largest membership ever (fourteen hundred plus). The organization credits it's survival to their deep, strong roots. While members celebrate their Irish Heritage, many members feel an even stronger bond, just being from or associated with, the Irish Channel.

Most people are aware of the pre-parade mass, followed by the parade up Magazine Street with hundreds of men in formal attire. This year the parade will be held on March 16, 2019, the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day. In recent years, the organization’s activities have greatly expanded to include supporting such fund-raisers as Special Olympics; the Chrones Benefit Golf Tournament for Chrones Research; The Chefs’ Charity of St. Michael’s Special School; distribution of Thanksgiving food baskets and active support of The Friends of St. Alphonsus; a dedicated group that has transformed the former church into a vital cultural center while in the progress of restoring the art, stained glass windows and physical premises to its original magnificence.

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2019 Irish Channel Parade Route

Since 1978 the members have worn with great pride, commemorative medallions honoring Father Seelos, St. Alphonsus Church, St. Patrick’s Church and St. Michael’s Special School, the Irish Harp, and the counties of Ireland. Each year, board members also select a Grand Marshal, Man of the Year, Queen and her court. Our parade attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators along our neighborhood routes, and is growing larger every year. There are around 5000 participants in the parade and around 30 large floats.

2019 Grand Marshal - Norman Ryan

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2019 Grand Marshal - Norman Ryan.

Norman was born April 7, 1951 to George Ryan, Sr. and Claire Payne.  He has one brother, George Ryan, Jr.  Norman was born and raised in the Irish Channel, living across the street from Clay Square; now known as Burke Park.  He attended St. Alphonsus Grade School and Redemptorist High School.

In 1972, he married the love of his life Barbara Gallagher.  They were married 47 years until her death in 2014.  They had one daughter, Brandy Ryan.

Norman began his coaching at Rummel High School in 1986. He taught and coached at Ridgewood Prep for 30 years. He was head coach for 15 years.  He was named 1995’s All Metro Coach of the Year.  He retired from coaching and teaching in 2017.

Norman has been a long time member of the Irish Channel Marching Club.  Norman follows in the footsteps of his father-in-law, Norman Gallagher, Sr. who was Grand Marshal in 1972.  He is also a member of the Krewe of Thoth for 44 years.

Man of the Year - Elmore A. Steinert 

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Man of the Year - Elmore A. Steinert.

Elmore Anthony Steinert, Jr. was born on September 1, 1949 to Elmore Steinert Sr. and Rowena Payne Steinert.  Elmo was born and raised in the Irish Channel, living on Second Street and spent many days playing at Clay Square.  He attended St. Alphonsus Grade School and graduated from Redemptorist High School in 1967 where he played basketball.  He went on to attend Loyola University and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1971.  He married his high school sweetheart, Sue-Ann Skinner, who also lived in the Irish Channel. Elmo and Sue have been married for fifty years.  They are the proud parents of two children, Torrie (Chris) and Todd (Trisha) and have four grandchildren, Jared, Abby, Tanner and Tatum.

Elmo began teaching and coaching at his Alma Mater, Redemptorist High School.  From there he went on to several other high schools, including Brother Martin, Rummel, East Jefferson, Grace King, Patrick Taylor Academy and Dutchtown, where he retired from teaching last year.  He is proud to say that he has worked in the education field for fifty years, being a mentor to many young people.  During his time in education, Elmo has also been a coach in many different sports, mainly coaching young men in the game of football.  He is currently still coaching football at Dutchtown High School in Gonzales, Louisiana, where he and his wife now reside. 

During his coaching tenure, Elmo has received various awards including District Coach of the Year (8 years) and Metro Coach of the Year (2 years). He was selected to coach in the LHSAA All Star football game and also the World Global Junior Championship football game representing the USA in which they won by defeating Europe and Canada. As an educator, Elmo was named Teacher of the Year while working at Patrick Taylor Academy.  Even though he received these awards, his main reward in his fifty years of being an educator and coach, has been touching the lives of so many young people over the years.  It has truly been a rewarding vocation for him!

Along with belonging to the Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Club, Elmo has been a member of the Krewe of Thoth for over forty years.  He also belongs to The Louisiana High School Football Coaches Association, The American Football Coaches Association, The Louisiana Association of Educators and The National Education Association.

The Irish Channel has always been a special part of Elmo’s life.  Even though he was an only child, he grew up with many friends and his cousins, The Doyles and The Ryans, who have always been like brothers to him.  Elmo is very proud to be named the 2019 Man of the Year and is honored to march on side of his cousin, Norman Ryan, the 2019 Grand Marshal.  He is looking forward to enjoying this special day with his family and friends and knows that his mom and dad will be looking down on him with pride as he walks the streets of The Irish Channel as The Man of the Year.

Queen

Meagan Kelly 

Court to Her Majesty

Brianna Ione Barry 
Camille Denny 
Carolyn McGinnis 
Maddy McGinnis 
Madison Murphy 
Cameryn “Quinn” Nugent 
Emma O’Grady
Natalie Rigney 

See video footage from the 2018 Irish Channel St. Patrick's Day Parade here:

For more see below: 

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