The United Irish American Association (UIAA) is delighted to announce the St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place on Sunday, March 16th at 2:00PM on Delaware Avenue in the City of Buffalo.
UIAA Mission:
To conduct a great family friendly, religious, patriotic, and civic event in Buffalo that honors Saint Patrick and displays the Irish contributions to our community and country.
UIAA Mission:
To conduct a great family friendly, religious, patriotic, and civic event in Buffalo that honors Saint Patrick and displays the Irish contributions to our community and country.
Parade Theme: "Hail to St. Patrick! God Bless America & Support Our Troops.
Honor Our Frontline Workers"
2025 Saint Patrick's Day Parade
Sunday, March 16, 2025
Delaware Avenue @ 2 PM
Live Streaming of the Parade:
To march in the Parade:
VIEW/PRINT PARADE APPLICATION
To donate to and/or sponsor the Parade:
View Donation Levels and Sponsorship Opportunities Send to:
United Irish-American Assn.
245 Abbott Road
Buffalo, N.Y. 14220
The 2025 St. Patrick's Day Grand Marshal
Fr. Dave Richards
Fr. Dave Richards
The United Irish American Association (UIAA) elected Fr. Dave Richards as Grand Marshal for the 2025 Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. Since 2009, Fr. Dave has been the Chaplain of the UIAA. He has opened our meetings with prayer and has contributed greatly to our mission of honoring Saint Patrick, celebrating Irish culture, heritage and the many contributions of the Irish people to Western New York.
Fr. Dave is the son of Margaret Mary (Nash) Richards and the late Daniel Richards.
The eldest of four children, Fr Dave has selected his mother, his sisters Elizabeth Sheehan and Molly Kooshoian, and his brother John Richards as Deputy Marshals. A contingent of family and friends will be marching to support him in this once in a lifetime honor.
Fr. Dave graduated from Nardin Elementary, Canisius High School, Canisius College and Christ the King Seminary. He is now the parochial vicar of the Catholic Community of Buffalo, North. Ordained since 2010, Fr. Dave was first assigned to St. Gregory the Great parish in Williamsville, then Queen of Heaven in West Seneca, and most recently at Our Lady of Pompeii in Lancaster.
His favorite part of ministry is the celebration of the Sacraments. Fr Dave considers it a great privilege to accompany God’s people through the many spiritual and emotional milestones of their lives. Fr. Dave loves spending time with his mother, his siblings and his seventeen nieces and nephews! He also really enjoys being outside in Buffalo summers, relaxing with brother priests, playing his guitar and listening to live music.
In chats with his family, Fr. Dave has come up with a bit of history on how they
made it to Buffalo: On his mother’s side, there were, at least, 7 sons of Richard Nash and Hannah Finn of Killadysart, County Clare and a couple of daughters. All but one of
them emigrated to the United States and Canada. The earliest was Mary Nash who married Patrick Blake and lived in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Next was George Nash who also lived in Canada, then Thomas Nash (of the Chicago branch), John Nash, the farmer in Elmira, NY. Simon lived with his brother John in Elmira before moving up to Buffalo where his older brother, Richard Nash lived. One of Mary Nash and Patrick Blake’s children, a daughter, Maggie Blake moved from Canada to her Uncle Simon’s house, the old Nash house on Hamburg Street in Buffalo. Maggie Blake is buried in the Nash family plot at Holy Cross Cemetery. So, her mother was the earliest Nash
immigrant from Ireland. Fr. Dave’s great, great uncle, Msgr. John Nash, was the founding pastor of Holy Family Church in 1902 located at South Park and Tifft St. in South Buffalo, where he was pastor for about 50 years until he died. The Knights of Columbus Hall in South Buffalo is named after him. From his father, Daniel Richards, the Irish connections came through his mother, Jean Hartnett. Grandpa Frank Hartnett was born in the Ward in Buffalo, hung out with Wild Bill Donovan and won city handball
championships with him. The family believes that Frank Hartnett’s parents had emigrated from Ireland. The Hartnett family lived on Kentucky Street in the first ward of Buffalo before ending up on Hollywood Ave. in South Buffalo.
Fr. Dave is the son of Margaret Mary (Nash) Richards and the late Daniel Richards.
The eldest of four children, Fr Dave has selected his mother, his sisters Elizabeth Sheehan and Molly Kooshoian, and his brother John Richards as Deputy Marshals. A contingent of family and friends will be marching to support him in this once in a lifetime honor.
Fr. Dave graduated from Nardin Elementary, Canisius High School, Canisius College and Christ the King Seminary. He is now the parochial vicar of the Catholic Community of Buffalo, North. Ordained since 2010, Fr. Dave was first assigned to St. Gregory the Great parish in Williamsville, then Queen of Heaven in West Seneca, and most recently at Our Lady of Pompeii in Lancaster.
His favorite part of ministry is the celebration of the Sacraments. Fr Dave considers it a great privilege to accompany God’s people through the many spiritual and emotional milestones of their lives. Fr. Dave loves spending time with his mother, his siblings and his seventeen nieces and nephews! He also really enjoys being outside in Buffalo summers, relaxing with brother priests, playing his guitar and listening to live music.
In chats with his family, Fr. Dave has come up with a bit of history on how they
made it to Buffalo: On his mother’s side, there were, at least, 7 sons of Richard Nash and Hannah Finn of Killadysart, County Clare and a couple of daughters. All but one of
them emigrated to the United States and Canada. The earliest was Mary Nash who married Patrick Blake and lived in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Next was George Nash who also lived in Canada, then Thomas Nash (of the Chicago branch), John Nash, the farmer in Elmira, NY. Simon lived with his brother John in Elmira before moving up to Buffalo where his older brother, Richard Nash lived. One of Mary Nash and Patrick Blake’s children, a daughter, Maggie Blake moved from Canada to her Uncle Simon’s house, the old Nash house on Hamburg Street in Buffalo. Maggie Blake is buried in the Nash family plot at Holy Cross Cemetery. So, her mother was the earliest Nash
immigrant from Ireland. Fr. Dave’s great, great uncle, Msgr. John Nash, was the founding pastor of Holy Family Church in 1902 located at South Park and Tifft St. in South Buffalo, where he was pastor for about 50 years until he died. The Knights of Columbus Hall in South Buffalo is named after him. From his father, Daniel Richards, the Irish connections came through his mother, Jean Hartnett. Grandpa Frank Hartnett was born in the Ward in Buffalo, hung out with Wild Bill Donovan and won city handball
championships with him. The family believes that Frank Hartnett’s parents had emigrated from Ireland. The Hartnett family lived on Kentucky Street in the first ward of Buffalo before ending up on Hollywood Ave. in South Buffalo.
As Grand Marshal, Fr. Dave has selected his mother Margaret Mary Richards, his sisters Elizabeth Sheehan & Molly Kooshoian and his brother John Richards as Deputy Marshals. A contingent of family and friends will be marching behind Fr. Dave to support him in this once in a lifetime honor.
UIAA introduces Fr. Dave Richards the 2025 Grand Marshal
and his family to the Buffalo Media.
and his family to the Buffalo Media.
Mayor Chis Scanlon's proclamation that February 2, 2025
is Fr. Dave Richards Day!
is Fr. Dave Richards Day!
Grand Marshal Fr. Dave Richards, Bishop Michael Fisher
and UIAA members at St. Joseph's Cathedral
and UIAA members at St. Joseph's Cathedral
The 2025 Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is dedicated to the memory of Janet O’Sullivan. Born in Lennoxtown, Scotland she came to Buffalo at the age of 21. She
married Patrick O’Sullivan and raised her family in South Buffalo. Janet was always smiling face at the Bishop Duffy Center and later the Buffalo Irish Center. Her connections to the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade ran deep with it being another day to celebrate and share her loving heart with family and friends. Two of her sons Michael and Patrick are past grand marshals and are current members of the UIAA along with her grandson Daniel.
The 2025 Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is dedicated to the memory of Janet O’Sullivan. Born in Lennoxtown, Scotland she came to Buffalo at the age of 21. She
married Patrick O’Sullivan and raised her family in South Buffalo. Janet was always smiling face at the Bishop Duffy Center and later the Buffalo Irish Center. Her connections to the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade ran deep with it being another day to celebrate and share her loving heart with family and friends. Two of her sons Michael and Patrick are past grand marshals and are current members of the UIAA along with her grandson Daniel.
The 2025 Parade Mass:
All are welcome to join our chaplain Fr. David Richards and Bishop Michael Fisher celebrate the Mass at Saint Joseph’s Cathedral at 10:30 AM before the lineup around the McKinley Monument for the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade.
The UIAA invites the residents of Western NY to come the city to witness the historic, traditional, family friendly event.
The UIAA invites the residents of Western NY to come the city to witness the historic, traditional, family friendly event.
International Recognition:
The Parade receives recognition and accolades and in a letter to Mayor Brown and in an article in the magazine "Ireland of the Welcomes" published in Dublin, Ireland. (read it).
The Parade receives recognition and accolades and in a letter to Mayor Brown and in an article in the magazine "Ireland of the Welcomes" published in Dublin, Ireland. (read it).
Parade Information:
Please contact us through the website "contact us" or call Brigid Knott @ 716-875-0282
Please contact us through the website "contact us" or call Brigid Knott @ 716-875-0282
Parade Day Vendors:
Street vendors are required to have a permit. Unfortunately, food trucks are not permitted. All inquiries related to permits should be directed to Pat Wanamaker @ 716-432-6608.
Street vendors are required to have a permit. Unfortunately, food trucks are not permitted. All inquiries related to permits should be directed to Pat Wanamaker @ 716-432-6608.
We are:
A volunteer organization with no paid employees. The Parade expenses are totally subsidized by donations from area residents, local businesses and political leaders
A volunteer organization with no paid employees. The Parade expenses are totally subsidized by donations from area residents, local businesses and political leaders
Donations:
United Irish-American Assn.
245 Abbott Road
Buffalo, N.Y. 14220
View Donation Levels and Sponsorship Opportunities
United Irish-American Assn.
245 Abbott Road
Buffalo, N.Y. 14220
View Donation Levels and Sponsorship Opportunities