NEW LONDON, Wis. (WFRV) – The city of New London, which will be temporarily renamed New Dublin for its annual St. Patrick’s celebration officially kicked off the festivities with a longstanding tradition, painting shamrocks on local businesses.
“So today we are going around and painting shamrocks at local businesses that show our support for our club. So we are going to seven or eight businesses today. This started back years ago,” said Anne Stedman, president of the Shamrock Club of New Dublin.
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The shamrock painting is just the beginning of a week filled with events celebrating Irish heritage. On St. Patrick’s Day, leprechauns will roam the city, changing the name from New London to New Dublin and visiting local daycares and senior centers.
“It’s kind of the beginning of our whole week. So it’s fun for all of us to get together and just spread some Irish cheer and have fun,” Stedman added.
The celebration will continue onto Saturday, March 22nd, with the grand parade and Irish Fest, a highlight of the week that draws many attendees.
“Grand Parade starts at one o’clock, we have over 100 entries this year, big pipe bands, high school bands, and different local businesses will have floats in town,” Stedman said.
The event, which started small, has grown into a community tradition.
“It started off really small, just a few people that wanted to celebrate their Irish heritage and it’s grown into something that’s way more than what we ever could have imagined it would’ve been,” said Steve Malliet, sponsorship committee chair of the Shamrock Club of New Dublin.
With a full schedule of events, including a family program and an Irish céilí, organizers say the celebration is more than just a party, it’s a way to honor the heritage and bring the community together.
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“We do everything from a family program to a céilí, which is an Irish dance on Friday, but I think the most fun for me is getting out and seeing how much of the community and how the surrounding area comes together to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day,” Malliet said.
The weeklong celebration continues with events leading up to the parade and Irish Fest, promising plenty of Irish cheer and community spirit for all.
