HARTFORD, Conn. — Even with the winter holidays around the corner, Irish eyes are smiling upon the upcoming 2024 Greater Hartford St. Patrick's Day Parade. The Central Connecticut Celtic Cultural Committee (CCCCC) has announced the parade's next Grand Marshal and Person of the Year.
Cora Whelan Dunning has been named the Grand Marshal of the 2024 parade, happening Saturday, March 9. She emigrated to the U.S. in 1958 and immediately joined the Irish American Home Society, which was located in Hartford at the time.
She served as the society's president in 1988 and had previously served in a variety of positions.
Cora was also known as a "well-respected" realtor in Glastonbury and surrounding communities. Cora also gave 35 years of service to the Glastonbury Auxiliary of Child and Family Services.
New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart has been selected to be CCCCC's 2024 Person of the Year. Stewart was just elected for her sixth term in office as Mayor of New Britain earlier this month.
This isn't her first year being involved in the parade; she was named the Marshal of the New Britain contingent for the 2022 and 2023 Greater Hartford St. Patrick's Day Parades.
Outside of city hall, Stewart chairs the Capital Region Council of Governments, and Capital Workforce Partners, and is a member of the Connecticut State College & University System's Board of Regents for Higher Education.
Stewart claims Scotch-Irish ancestry from Northern Ireland, the CCCCC said.
The 52nd annual Greater Hartford St. Patrick's Day Parade will step off at the State Capitol in Hartford on Saturday, March 9 at 11 a.m. Visit the CCCCC's website for more information.
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