Montreal launches St. Patrick’s Day festivities ahead of Sunday’s parade

The City of Montreal and representatives of the Irish community launched St. Patrick’s Day festivities.

This weekend will mark the 199th St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Montreal. It will take place on de Maisonneuve Blvd. Sunday, March 17, starting at 12 p.m. at the corner of Fort and will end at Jeanne-Mance.

According to a press release, the parade is expecting over 100 groups, 20 floats and 60 merchants.

Kevin Tracey, President of the United Irish Societies of Montreal (UIS), invited everyone to participate. “It is my honour to invite you to celebrate the rich Irish culture and heritage that is an integral part of our city. Whether you have Irish roots or simply want to experience a fun and festive atmosphere, we invite you to join us. Let’s paint the city green and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in true Montreal style.”

“Every spring, we celebrate the arrival of the parade, and that’s especially true this year, because the first gathering in Montreal was held exactly 200 years ago,” Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante explained. “That just goes to show how deeply rooted St. Patrick’s Day is in our identity. Today, two centuries later, this celebration is still as festive as ever, bringing together Montrealers of all origins.”

The parade will last around three hours, covering two kilometres,.

However, there will be several road closures near the parade.

On Sunday, in the Ville-Marie borough, de Maisonneuve Boulevard will be closed between Fort Street and Jeanne-Mance Street from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

There will be partial closure of two lanes on exit 3 (Guy Street) of the R-136 eastbound, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Also, Saint-Marc Street will be closed in order to assemble the floats.

Since 1833, Montreal’s coat of arms has featured the shamrock in recognition of Irish presence. From the end of the 19th century until 1900, the Irish were the second largest cultural group in Montreal. “They contributed to the city’s industrialization, major construction projects and the growth of the union movement. The Irish community developed a network of institutions and activities that you can discover in the MEM – Centre des mémoires montréalaises,” said the city in a press release.