Save the Date for the 2026 St. Patrick’s Day Parade: Saturday, March 7th
The Ballyshaners 43rd Annual Parade will take place on the first Saturday in March featuring Irish Dancing, Pipe Bands, and Local Groups
About Us
Ballyshaners means “Old Towners” in Gaelic, the Irish language
The Ballyshaners, Inc., were founded in 1980 by a small group of dedicated volunteers for the explicit purpose of organizing a Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia. The Parade is now well into its fourth decade and the number and variety of participants is greater than ever before. The organization’s mission has grown to promoting and preserving Irish history and culture.
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The Ballyshaners are recognized by the United States Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
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The Ballyshaners, Inc.
P.O. Box 320722
Alexandria, VA 22320
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The 2026 Grand Marshal!
Rook Richards also known as Mike Richards, was born and raised right here in the heart of Alexandria VA. He grew up in the suburbs off Quander Road and graduated from West Potomac High School in 2007. While attending West Potomac, Rook began learning guitar and would often head to the streets of Old Town to busk with friends while working at the Mt Vernon RECenter as a rink guard and “Zamboni Driver”. Eventually he would leave town and perform around the country to fully pursue music, and ended up back home in Alexandria once a month when he was asked to begin playing steadily at Murphy’s Irish Pub, Daniel O’Connell’s, Northside 10, Southside 815, and Augies Mussel House. When Covid hit, he moved into a small apartment on Alfred and shortly thereafter performed exclusively in Alexandria solidifying what he already knew, that this city was always a part of him and where he would call home. He is now working on a new country rock record in Nashville TN and planning a tour along with several releases in 2026. He’s looking forward to being on the road and playing his music again across the US, but will continue to come back to the place he was born, where his parents Brenda and Jeff still reside, where he laid his roots, and where he found his wife Annie, and found their wonderful black lab, Coal. He is very proud to have the honor of Grand Marshal this year as a “hometown hero”.
Click here to see more about our Grand Marshal Celebration at the Alexandrian! Join us February 27th from 7-10pm for cocktails, music, raffles, silent auction, fabulous food, and more!
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