All Things Green

The earliest Irish in Georgia were descendants of the Calvinist Scots from Ulster. They made their living by trading, trapping, and soldiering (2). But much greater numbers of Irish came to Savannah in the early nineteenth century to help build the canals and the Central of Georgia Railroad line. With the potato blight in Ireland many more came to America and of those many moved to Savannah. They were hard workers and made a home for themselves in the south.

Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the second largest in the U.S. and dates back to 1831. "It was organized by the Hibernian Society of Savannah, a benevolent group of Irish dedicated to aiding their less-fortunate fellow countrymen,” wrote Howard Keeley, PhD, Georgia Southern University Director of Irish Studies(1).

1

















After mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, people walk over to the parade route where the traditional parade begins.


2

History will be on the march,



3

and you can not have a parade without pipers.



4

Of course there will be floats,



5

and Irish dancers.


6

Appreciative gals will be descending on our brave troops.



7

If it has wheels and was not green before, it will be now.




8


From pipe bands to the Marine band there will be music in the streets.


9









There must be something about the uniform.



10



More floats, more bands, more Irish dancers, etc., etc., etc. - Remember this is the second largest St. Patrick's Day parade in America.



You expect to see plenty of things in the parade, but there is much to entertain you in the crowds:


11












tall, smiling green hats,


12












little leprechauns,


13

















big leprechauns,


14

















Funny green people,



15

green dogs,


16


and just plain strange green things.



When the parade is over you can head down to River Street to grab a refreshing drink,

17


that is, if there is room.



18


When the parade is over and the day is done, it will even end on a green note.



19



credits:
1.http://www.moon.com/destinations/charleston-savannah/savannah/the-irish-savannah
Jim Morekis from Moon Charleston & Savannah, 4th Edition
2.http://news.georgiasouthern.edu

photo credits.
1.http://www.diosav.org
2.http://gosoutheast.about.com
3.http://gosoutheast.about.com
4.http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/holidays-occasions/get-inspired-march-2008-00400000008257/s:
5.http://gosoutheast.about.com/od/photoswebcamspodcasts/ig/St--Patrick-s-Day---Savannah/Irish-Dancers-of-Savannah.htm
6.http://www.army.mil/-news/2011/01/06/50103-2010-year-in-review--deployed-soldiers-remembered-at-st-patricks-day-parade-25-march-10/
7.http://gosoutheast.about.com
8.http://gosoutheast.about.com/od/photoswebcamspodcasts/ig/St--Patrick-s-Day---Savannah/Irish-Dancers-of-Savannah.htm
9.http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/01/25/2008-01-25_drinking_fighting_reasons_cited_why_fdny-1.html
10.http://gosoutheast.about.com
11.http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/holidays-occasions/get-inspired-march-2008-00400000008257/s:
12.http://www.keytosavannah.com/blog/tagged/St.-Patricks-Day
13.http://www.richmondrugby.net/savannah_2009.html
14.http://projects.ajc.com/gallery/view/travel/southeast/st-patricks-savannah/
15.savannahnow.com by Kimberly Larson
16.http://projects.ajc.com/gallery/view/travel/southeast/st-patricks-savannah/
17.http://gosoutheast.about.com
18.http://dizzy-girl.net/?p=1010
19.http://real-savvy.com/category/things-to-do-in-savannah