UTICA — The committee for the Utica St. Patrick’s Day Parade has announced Colleen Kain Martin as the 2023 Utica St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshal. As the past vice president and a current member of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, a provincial delegate of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, and local branch secretary of Craobh Dugan O’Looney, Martin has been a long-time contributor to the Irish community.

Martin has helped plan the annual Great American Irish Festival for many years and has also served as a longtime special events coordinator for the Utica St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

She is a member of the Irish Cultural Center Program Development Committee, charter member of the HARP museum, chair of the annual ICC banquet and awards event, and a member of the Network of Irish Cultural Centers of North America.

Committee officials with the Utica St. Patrick’s Day Parade say that after making the parade possible and enjoyable for so many years, it is Martin’s turn to lead the parade wielding the shillelagh in March.

The tradition of the Passing of the Shillelagh at the Grand Marshal Reception will be held on Friday, March 3, at 5:30 p.m. at the Irish Cultural Center, 623 Columbia St. The 2022 Grand Marshal, Al Sisti and other past grand marshals will welcome Martin as the new grand marshal.

For more information on the 2023 Utica St. Patrick’s Day Parade, visit: uticasaintpatricksdayparade.org.