Gerry Adams, President of Ireland’s Sinn Fein party, will be accompanying Congressman Brian Higgins in the Valley Community Association’s 15^th Annual “Old Neighborhood” St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15^th, 2008. According to Congressman Higgins “Gerry Adams has dedicated over 30 years of his life to the completion of a stable and democratic peace settlement in the North”.

The Valley Community Association is honored to have Gerry Adams march in their parade and encourages those from the Western New York Irish Community to come and welcome him along the parade route. The parade route includes South Park Avenue (between Hamburg Street and Smith Street), Smith Street (between South Park Avenue and Elk Street), Elk Street (between Smith Street and South Park Avenue), Hamburg Street (between South Park Avenue and O’Connell Avenue), and O’Connell Avenue (between Hamburg and Louisiana Streets).

The parade will kick-off at 12 Noon from the Valley Community Center, located near the junction of South Park Avenue and Elk Street. The “other” parade, which retraces the original 1913 parade route, winds through the historic streets of the Valley and Old First Ward neighborhoods.

This year the parade will be led by Grand Marshals Gene and Mary McCarthy and will be dedicated in memory of the late Edgar NeMoyer and Ryan Starzynski.

There will be something for everyone – Irish dancers, marching bands, floats, clowns, classic cars, local radio stations, local police and fire department vehicles, local unions, dignitaries, family clans, and more.

Following the parade there will be a grand Irish “Hooley” at the Valley Center from 1pm-6pm that will feature both inside and outside bars, live Irish music by “Poor Ould Goat”, Irish dancers, and plenty of food and refreshments.

For more information regarding the 15^th Annual “Old Neighborhood” St. Patrick’s Day Parade, call Lori at 823-4707 ext. 4.