Home : St. Patrick's Day Parade : History

History

The Indy Sports Foundation's first St. Patrick's Day Parade was in 1981. It was organized by the current Foundation President, Jack Moriarty along with Mike Moriarty & Kevin Murray who were members of the Indianapolis Athletic Club. The Parade was originally organized by the Ancient Order of Hibernians early in the 20th Century or perhaps before but was abandoned during the 1960s.  Seeing the need for the parade, the Indianapolis Athletic Club initiated the current day parade and coupled it with its Irish Member of the Year Luncheon conducted since 1978.  It was the only day of the year that the Club opened their doors to non-Athletic Club members. Everyone was well to be Irish for the day. The Parade finished in front of the Athletic Club building and people would file in by the hundreds and fill up the first four floors.    

The 1981 Parade had 20 units and followed the same street route currently utilized.  The Parade grew quickly during the first few years from 20 units to 40 to 60 and to eventually the current size of over 100 units.  Likewise, in 1981 very few downtown businesses celebrated March 17; however, with the crowds quickly swelling the downtown streets for the parade, it was not long before many St. Patrick Celebrations were initiated in the downtown area.  Soon, additional events were added to the celebration including the Greening of the Canal and the Run/Walk Race.  Today, tens of thousands participate in the celebration of St. Patrick Day in downtown Indianapolis.

With the demise of the Indianapolis Athletic Club, the Indy Sports Foundation, independent of the Indianapolis Athletic Club, moved its headquarters to the Columbia Club in downtown Indianapolis to insure the continuity of its programs including the St. Patrick's Day Parade.