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Newsbriefs PBS stations to air Dublin Parade broadcast

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

By Ray O’Hanlon

Dublin St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be broadcast in America for the first time ever this Friday.

The RTE Irish Television coverage of the parade will be fed via satellite to the PBS station WLIW Channel 21 on Long Island, beginning at 9:30 p.m. The 90-minute tape-delayed special will also be aired on other public stations across the U.S.

This year’s millennium parade in Dublin will be geared toward reflecting Ireland’s new sense of confidence and vibrancy, according to presenter and coordinator of the transAtlantic broadcast, Patricia O’Reilly.

"With the strong links between Ireland and the U.S., we wanted people this side of the Atlantic to feel part of the celebrations," O’Reilly said.

Meanwhile, WNBC in New York is planning a four-hour broadcast of the Manhattan parade starting Friday morning at 11.

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Brooklyn marks 25

The Brooklyn St. Patrick’s Day Parade celebrates its 25th anniversary this year with Bishop Thomas Daily leading the March this Sunday, March 19.

The parade steps off at 1 p.m. from 15th Street and Prospect Park West and is dedicated to the memory of Chief Patrick D. Brennan of the NYPD. The themes of this year’s parade is "Faith of our Irish Fathers and Mothers."

The aides to the grand marshal this year are Brenda Kearns, Rev. Dennis Farrell, John Gallagher, Eileen O’Rourke, John Sullivan, John O’Leary and David Bourke.

Before the parade, at 9, there will be a pre-parade Mass at Holy Name Church, Prospect Park West and Prospect Avenue. Bishop Daily will be the celebrant.

MacBride attack repulsed

An attempt to repeal Minnesota’s MacBride Principles legislation has been turned back, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Irish National Caucus.

Fr. Sean McManus, president of the INC, said that in January some legislators tries to "sneak" a MacBride repeal measure into a state housekeeping bill.

"The repeal language would have nullified the MacBride legislation for the State of Minnesota and could have created a dangerous precedent for the other 15 states that have passed the MacBride Principles," McManus said in a statement.

McManus praised MacBride supporters and in particular State Sen. Jim Metzen, chairman of the Senate Government Operations Committee, for acting quickly to stem the anti-MacBride effort.

Mitchell for Salem State

Former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, who chaired the Northern Ireland peace talks, will speak at Massachusetts Salem State College on Monday, March 27, at 8 p.m.

Mitchell will offer his audience a firsthand look at the peace process, which is currently stalemated over the issue of disarmament.

Ticket prices are $15 general admission, $40 reserved seating, and $65 preferred seating, which includes a post-lecture reception with Mitchell. The event will be held in the SSC O’Keefe Center, Canal Street, Salem. For more information call (978) 542-7555.

— Jim Smith

Roscommon gathers

Members of the County Roscommon Society will assemble for Friday’s New York St. Patrick’s Day Parade at West 48th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues, at 2 p.m. The society will be led by the Castlerea Brass and Reed Band. Details on the society’s plans for the big day are available by calling (718) 376-7314.

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