Latest news with #AlisonLeRoy
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Braving the weather, Dublin's St. Patrick's Day Parade draws thousands
DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) — Organizers of Dublin's St. Patrick's Day Parade said the event would go on Saturday morning rain or shine, and they meant it. Thousands of people lined the streets of Historic Dublin for the 'Greenest, Grandest Parade.' 'I think it really speaks to the tradition. It's one of those where people know they're going to be here every year before St. Patrick's Day and they want to celebrate,' Alison LeRoy, director of events for the city of Dublin, said. Leroy spent all morning monitoring the forecast, hoping the severe weather would let up in time for the parade. It was still raining at the start, but more than 100 groups braved the weather and walked the parade route. Leading the parade was this year's Grand Leprechaun, Barb Anderson. Groveport removes former NFL star Le'Veon Bell's name from stadium 'I get to be on the float with my family. So I have eight other people in my family that are on the float,' Anderson said. Anderson was selected by Dublin's mayor and previous Grand Leprechauns. They said they chose her because of her involvement in numerous local organizations, including work with the Dublin Food Pantry and her role as president of the Safe Alliance of Interfaith Leaders. Anderson has lived in Dublin in 35 years and said she knows how much it means to serve as the Grand Leprechaun. 'It is such a great honor and I'm just so humbled by the other people that have been named leprechauns over the years. They are a wonderful group of people and Dublin is just such a great city in which to serve and volunteer, which I just love to do,' she said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Dublin prepares for annual St. Patrick's Day parade despite weather concerns
DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) — The greenest and grandest parade of the year is back. The city of Dublin has been preparing for its annual St. Patrick's Day parade for months. The City of Dublin's St. Patrick's Day preparations are in full swing. However, the weather is not shaping up to be as nice as it was this week. The parade typically happens rain or shine, but event organizers say they've been monitoring the weather all week and that safety is their top priority. 'St Patrick's Day in Dublin really is a tradition, and people come from all over the region to it. We've got, actually, tour buses coming in tomorrow, and it's just really a great place for families to get together,' said Alison LeRoy, the director of events for the City of Dublin. The parade in Dublin originally started in the 80s. 'In 1980, a DJ from New York called our mayor and asked what we were doing for St Patrick's Day in Dublin. The mayor was so upset at the time that we weren't doing anything that in 1981, we started a whole bunch of celebrations, you know, to make sure that we were celebrating in Dublin,' said LeRoy. CPD celebrates graduation of largest cadet class Since then, the parade has grown every year. Before the parade is the pancake breakfast at Sells Middle School, and it runs right up until the parade is set to begin at 11 a.m. 'We usually get about 15,000 people. Kind of depends on the weather, of course,' said LeRoy. LeRoy says that they'll be keeping a close eye on the weather leading into the parade, as thunderstorms are on the way. However, LeRoy is hopeful the weather will cooperate enough for people to enjoy a nearly 2-hour-long parade. 'Over in Ireland, they call a misty like stream of rain, they call it a soft day. So that's what we're hoping for tomorrow. Feel really like we're in Ireland, just have a little bit of rain tomorrow and then clear up for the parade,' said LeRoy. NBC4 spoke with quite a few people to see if they'd be going to the parade tomorrow. Most of them told me that it depends on the weather, but regardless, they're looking forward to it. 'They always have like tons of people, everyone's really excited. There's lots of local businesses, everybody's, you know, cheering. You know, we love seeing the big balloons and firetrucks and everything that comes through,' said Dublin resident Kayla Tober. So far, LeRoy says they've already decided not to use helium balloons since they can't fly in winds over 25 miles per hour. Following the parade is the annual pub crawl. LeRoy says if you're planning on heading to Dublin, make sure you have plans in place to get home safely when the weather gets extreme. 'There's definitely spots along the parade route that they can take shelter in,' she said. The city is partnering with Lyft to make sure you don't drink and drive. They have a discount code that is good now through the 17th. If you're interested, click here. The roads will start to close at 8 a.m. Travel impacts can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
