WINDSOR TERRACE — Declan Carroll hopped and jigged on March 15 in a “fisherman” sweater just like the ones worn by his parents, aunts, and uncles at the 51st annual Brooklyn St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
It was perfect attire for the breezy, overcast conditions that hovered over this year’s parade. Still, the frigid weather was ignored by the joyous crowd assembled on the parade route.
Each of the 12 Carroll family sweaters — characterized by their intricate, raised, cable-knit designs — was knitted by Declan’s grandmother, Gloria Carroll. This style was popularized by the seafaring culture from the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland.
“Each one takes a good six months to knit,” Carroll said. “If you look at the pattern, they’re all different.”
Since 1975, the annual parade has honored the patron saint of Ireland and the intertwined histories of Ireland and the U.S.
One of the parade’s early remembrances in 1976, the nation’s bicentennial, was for the Battle of Brooklyn, Aug. 27, 1776.
Fifty years later, the Brooklyn parade again honored the battle in which British forces routed Gen. George Washington’s army.
Still, a rear-guard action pressed by 400 Maryland troops gave the future first president a nighttime window to evacuate the rest of his army, which survived and eventually won the war.
Those early American heroes were represented in the 2026 Brooklyn parade by a color guard from the Sons of the American Revolution’s Battle of Brooklyn Chapter, whose members dressed in replica uniforms of Washington’s army.
The lineup also included several pipe-and-drum corps marching bands, local traditional Irish dance clubs, Scouting troops, and politicians.
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Magee Hickey, PIX11 reporter, was the 2026 parade grand marshal. She was born in Brooklyn but spent most of her life in Manhattan. She later relocated to Brooklyn, where her family’s rich Irish heritage runs deep.
Hickey proudly described how her ancestors, displaced by the Great Famine of the mid-1800s, came to America, prospered, and eventually donated a stained-glass window for St. Thomas Aquinas Church at 4th Avenue and 9th Street.
“The St. Patrick’s Day parade,” she said, “is a celebration of all the values we learned growing up — the importance of family, the importance of Church, the importance of community, and just helping others.”
This year’s Aides to the Grand Marshal are: Mark Barrett, Gaelic Sports, Brooklyn Shamrocks Gaelic Football Club; Neil Patrick Callaghan, United Irish Counties Assn. of NY, County Leitrim Society of NY; William B. Cullen, Jr., Uniformed Services; Michael A Rawley Jr., American Legion Post 1636; Jim Donovan, Irish Culture, Drum Major, Knights of Columbus #126 Pipes & Drums;
Maureen Shaffer Edison, Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Brooklyn, Div. 9, Marine Park/Park Slope; Tara Hodgens, Parade Volunteer and Supporter; John Patrick McGoldrick, Education, teacher, Xavier High School; Francis J. Sheridan, Jr., Grand Council of United Emerald Societies, NYS Courts Emerald Society; and Michael Zwosta, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Brooklyn, Division #19, Gerritsen Beach.
Before the parade, Auxiliary Bishop Witold Mroziewski of Brooklyn celebrated a special 10:30 a.m. Mass for parade participants at nearby Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Windsor Terrace.
“They have eyes to see,” he said of the Irish. “They have a heart to be open. They have a mind to share everything that is good.”
At Mass, Bishop Mroziewski, who is from Poland, closed with a traditional Irish blessing.
“May the road rise up to meet you,” he said with his Polish accent. “May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields, and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.”
