West Haven St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Postponed

WEST HAVEN, CT — Mayor Nancy R. Rossi and the West Haven St. Patrick’s Day Committee are postponing the 29th annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration honoring Irishman of the Year Keith M. Sweeney to coincide with the future date of the postponed Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

The March 17 ceremony has been postponed in accordance with Gov. Ned Lamont’s protocol of discouraging large public gatherings of more than 100 people in response to COVID-19, according to officials.

According to Lamont, large crowds or places where individuals are shoulder-to-shoulder are considered the most dangerous and should be avoided, especially for those 60 and older. The governor’s directive is one of the recently announced policies to discourage the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Rossi and committee Chairwoman Joanne Conlan said the popularity of West Haven’s “Irish Person of the Year” event, which traditionally attracts 100 to 250 people, coupled with the prominence of this year’s honoree, a decorated former police officer, left organizers with no choice but to postpone the celebration in the interest of public health.

“We look forward to coinciding our St. Patrick’s Day Celebration with the Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade this spring,” Rossi said.