San Antonio St Patricks Day Parade 2024

Foresight

In October 1966, at St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas, two professors and a graduate student met to inaugurate a society which would involve persons of Irish nationality or heritage to do honor to the land of their forefathers. Dr. Sean Burke; An Irish born professor, at Incarnate Word College (now University of the Incarnate Word), Joseph B. McShane; a San Antonio native, third generation, graduate student and retired Air Force Colonel, and Patrick J. Dowd, a New York City, first generation, scientist and instructor at the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, gathered together planned the goals of an Irish Society.

On March 17th, 1967, the first official activity of the newly formed Society took place outside the Alamo. Twenty or so members laid a wreath at the door of the Alamo Shrine with Irish tunes played by the Central Catholic High School Band. A month later, the first officers and directors were elected. In March of 1968, the first St. Patrick's Day Parade started in downtown San Antonio with 250 marchers walking about four blocks to the Alamo.