St Patrick’s Day in New York is looked forward to with excitement every year and the 2015 event proved another successful occasion with 4 generations of Carlovians involved.  This year saw a delegation from the Carlow Association of London also travelling over to take part.
The Parade is America’s oldest and proudest Irish traditions, held for the first time in 1762 – some fourteen years before the Declaration of Independence.  The route is along 5th Ave starting at 44th St and finishing at 79th street in front of the viewing stand at Central Park.  The Carlow Association joined it as it passed 48th Street with the parade numbering 200,000, with marching bands, schools, cultural and county organisations as well as police and fire departments and military groups from all over.  Such is the size of the parade it takes some 4 hours to pass the giant crowd of spectators lining 5th Avenue.
At the County Carlow Association of New York’s ‘After Parade Party’ in the Affinity Hotel in Manhatton John Nolan of the Carlow Association in London presented Dr Henry A Malone, President of the Carlow Association of New York with a specially commissioned painting by the talented Rathvilly artist poet and musician Caroline Cunningham entitled ‘Mind The Gap’
In John’s presentation speech he explained how the familiar words of the London Underground were adapted in embracing the gap, in nurturing it and keeping it alive. It was directed towards all Emigrant Carlovians in maintaining links with home.  The concept was supported by Councillors Brian O’Donoghue and John Pender who represented Carlow County Council at the celebrations. The painting was created with symbolic meanings relevant to New York such as the Big Apple and the flag, London was show with Tower Bridge and the words Mind the Gap while Carlow’s Mt Leinster, the Haroldstown Dolmen and the colours Red Yellow and Green.  A generous sprinkling of shamrock with its three leaves were used to represent London, New York and Carlow.
A poem entitled ‘Mind the Gap’ also written by Caroline Cunningham and recited by John’s Grandson, 11 year old Dane Cruickshank was received with a great round of applause.
– MIND THE GAP –