Irish Day parade stepping off a week earlier this year

AOH’s Randy Dodd, longtime L.B. lifeguard, is named grand marshal

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The 25th annual Saint Brendan the Navigator Long Beach Irish Day Parade and Festival, organized by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, is set for Saturday, Sept. 27, at 11 a.m. The parade steps off at Park Avenue and Washington Boulevard and runs through West Beech Street, ending at Ohio Avenue. The festival runs from noon to 5 p.m.

The parade — traditionally held on the first Saturday of October — will be held one week earlier this year because it coincided with Yom Kippur, parade Chairman Bernie Petty said.

“We did it out of respect to the people of the Jewish community,” Petty said. “Obviously, as far as logistics, we had to try and get everything done a little bit quicker.”

The parade is arguably the largest in Long Beach and attracts thousands of people, and is followed by the annual Irish Day festival in the West End, which showcases traditional Irish music, food and culture.

Two years ago the city, the AOH and local businesses managed to reach an agreement that limited the festival’s hours, mandated that bars close early and required businesses to help cover its costs. For the first time this year, the city is launching a “Kids’ Zone” at West School that will feature family-friendly entertainment, with age-appropriate activities for children.

“We encourage people to come down and enjoy the day with us, and be respectful of the West End residents after the parade and festival is over,” Petty said.

Last year, Brian Sharkey, a past president of the local division of the AOH, was the parade’s grand marshal, and Michael Carroll and Sean Sullivan were honored as the AOH’s 2013 Men of the Year.

This year, the AOH is again honoring one of its own as grand marshal — lifelong Long Beach resident Randy Dodd, a 25-year member of the AOH who is part of the group’s honor guard and parade committee. He is also in charge of organizing the AOH’s annual grand marshal’s dinner.

Dodd, 69, is a well-known Long Beach lifeguard of 51 years and a former captain. He is also a former physical education teacher at Long Beach Catholic Regional School, and former recreation assistant superintendent for the City of Long Beach.

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