2017 Mystic Irish Parade Winners Announced

STONINGTON, CT - The 14th Annual Mystic Irish Parade stepped off without a hitch from the Seaport parking lot at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 19.

The sun shone intermittently on hundreds of floats, thousands of participants and several thousand spectators, according to a release.

One might say that the luck of the Irish was certainly in full play as a snowstorm was threatened all week long. From bagpipers, to high school bands...law enforcement units to politicians, all marched in high style while proudly displaying their Irish heritage if even in spirit alone.

The 2017 Grand Marshal was Darren Stewart, Stonington Chief of Police. He accepted the honor of being Grand Marshal under one condition.

“I’m accepting in recognition of the men and women of the Stonington Police Department," Stewart said in a release, "and of police officers throughout Connecticut who put themselves in harm’s way. It’s all about them.”

Parade winners will be awarded April 2 at 3 p.m. The event will take place at Harp & Hound in downtown Mystic.

All are invited to join in the celebration and raise a glass or two to the well-deserving winners. In addition to the winners being awarded, the parade raffle for a trip to Ireland will also be pulled at 4 p.m.

It’s not too late to win a trip to Ireland. See www.mysticirishparade.org for more information.

Here are the 2017 Award Winners:

Best Irish Theme Float (min 10 partic.)

The Boathouse

Best Musical Unit

Westerly School Marching Band

Best Bagpipe Band

New London Fire Fighters Pipes & Drums

Best Color Guard

Bridgeport Police Department Honor Guard

Best Antique Vehicle

Westerly Firefighters Handtub

Best Youth Group

The Junior Colonial Fife and Drum Corps of Westbrook

Best Community Group

Mystic Garden Club

Best Fire Department Unit

Center Groton Fire Department

Best Law Enforcement Unit (inc Dept of Correc.)

Police Pipes & Drums of Waterbury

Best Military Unit

Navy Cadets

Ed Murphy Memorial Award

Stonington High School Marching Band

Larry Gemma Memorial Award

Newport Ancient Order of Hibernians Pipe and Drums

Best Newcomer

Misquamicut Fire Department + Ansonia Fire Department

Most Inspirational

Sales Up 4 Cancer/Mystic River Mudheads Sailing Club

Best Motorized

Hugo A Simonelli VFW Post #3263 Mysitc

Roughest & Toughest

Sailing Masters of 1812

Most Gregarious Unit

Friends of Mystic & Noank Library

Peoples Choice

Girl Scouts of Connecticut Lighthouse unit

Spirit of Mystic

Mystic Seaport

Image via Shutterstock.