For many years the main fundraising event that drives the Ocean County Saint Patrick’s Day parade has been their enormously successful “Traditional Irish Wake”. Every year more and more Ocean County people, especially Irish Americans, turn out for this traditional Irish event for an afternoon of fun, frolicking and frivolity.
Growing attendance caused the Parade Committee last year to change the event’s venue to the much larger location at Hemingway’s on the Boulevard in Seaside Heights. This year's Wake is on Sunday, February at 3 p.m. Tickets are just $10. There will be door prizes and raffles too.
Denis Kelly the Parade’s new Chairman along with Tom King, Parade Coordinator, are excited about the event. “It’s like bringing a bit of traditional Ireland to the Jersey Shore” says Kelly. Tommy King who organizes the event says the entertainment is to die for. “This year we have Green Spell, a very popular traditional Irish band, and also the Shamrock and Thistle Pipes and Drums” said King.
“It’s more than a fundraiser and good time, it’s a cultural event.” Says Tom King. For the non-Irish, the musical reenactment of the Finnegan’s wake legend will make it clear why an Irish Wake is one of the most looked forward to and liveliest events of all time.
For more information on the Parade, band, group or sponsor information orthe Irish Wake and ticket availability go to: www.OceanCountySaintPatricksDayParade.com.
