In a year when Ireland will be awash in celebrations commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising, which paved the way for Irish independence from Britian, the Toronto St Patrick’s Day Society has chosen two union leaders as the co Grand Marshals to lead the 2016 parade.
Pat Sheridan LiUNA 183 executive board member and Sid Ryan past president of the OFL will lead this year’s parade through the streets of Toronto. The 2016 worldwide St Patrick’s Day Parades will have special significance given that many of the prominent leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising were also Labour leaders such as Big Jim Larkin and James Connolly. Larkin and Connolly had earlier led 20,000 impoverished inner city, tenement dwelling workers in a lockout against 300 of Dublin’s worst employers. The dispute lasted almost 5 months from August 26th,1913 to January 18th,1914 and is still viewed today as one of the most significant labour disputes in Irish history. The infamous lockout of 1913 is viewed by many as the prelude to the 1916 Easter Rising which eventually led to Irish independence.
The Toronto St Patrick’s Day Society felt it was important to recognize this pivotal point in Irish history by having two Labour leaders lead the 2016 parade.
Alan Louthe chair of the parade said “this choice has been 100 years in the making and well deserved by two of Canada’s well known and respected labour leaders”. He went on to say “this will be a great day for the Irish and all of our beautiful friends in Toronto, the most multicultural city in the world”.
Date of Event. Friday 11th March 2016 – Doors open at 8pm. Till 12.
This event is not a sit down meal its Cocktail Reception, hors d’oeuvres, wine with a cash bar
Dress: Evening attire, Suit – Location: Casa Loma Castle. World Class Irish Dancing – Live DJ. Hugo Straney – 20 piece Choir – Raffle