Long Beach's Popular Irish Day Is Likely To Go On Next Month

LONG BEACH, NY —The popular Irish Day event is close to moving forward next month. The city of Long Beach has been in negotiations with the Ancient Order of Hiberians (AOH) about holding the festivities amid COVID-19 concerns.

Long Beach Parks Commissioner Joe Brand told the city council members Thursday night that the parade and street fair are expected to take place on October 2 with some precautions or restrictions in place.

The city had previously stated the parade would go on but not the fair, as they worked to reduce the number of people gathering and the spread of COVID-19.

Brand addressed rumors that Long Beach officials canceled the event completely as the AOH would not accept just the parade, citing revenue comes primarily from the street vendors.

"At no point were the efforts ever abandoned," Brand said.

The city acquiesced, in part, as the COVID-19 vaccine for Long Beach residents increased by two percent in the past month to 61.3 percent, a city spokesperson said at Thursday's meeting.

This week, Brand said, negotiations stepped up with compromises on both sides, including making sure vendors are stretched out from each other so large groups don't congregate in one location.

While the city didn't formalize announce the event, the plan would call for the parade starting at 11 a.m. and the street fair going until 4 p.m., Brand said.

He said residents, city and the AOH should all be "relatively satisfied" with the outcome.