Annual Irish celebration a success

Mar. 12—RUSHVILLE — For the 25th time, local families, friends and guests from out of town came together to celebrate all things Irish and raise money for local causes.

The Rushville Irish Committee hosted its annual Saint Patrick's celebration Saturday with a parade from Main Street Christian Church down Main Street to the Knights of Columbus on E. Third Street, where a variety of entertaining options and diversions took place.

Dan Shanahan, Brian Sheehan and John McCane, along with family and friends, have been hosting a celebration of their Irish heritage and inviting the Rush County community to join them since 1999.

As in the past, proceeds from this year's event will go to support local causes.

McCane estimated this year's profits at $10,000, adding that it looks as though the group will be able to reach their goal of giving a total of $250,000 back to the community over the years.

Major benefactors from this year's proceeds are Riverside Park and the sustainability fund established at the Rush County Community Foundation for the Rush County REC Center now under construction in the former Walmart building in the 1800 block of N. Main Street.

A few of the local charities to benefit from their efforts in the past include the Riverside Park Summer Concert Series known as Live by the Levee, the Rush County Community Foundation, Rush Memorial Hospital, and the 4-H Cloverbuds.

"When this party began decades ago with the Shanahans gathering to sing Irish songs and embrace our heritage, we sure never thought it would grow to do so much good," Shanahan previously stated.

Former Purdue and current Tampa Bay Buccaneer tight end Payne Durham served as this year's St. Patrick's Parade Grand Marshal, and was presented a Key to the City by Rushville Mayor Mike Pavey, who also named Durham an honorary Hoosier.

The Irish duo Brigid's Cross returned to Rushville and headlined the Irish celebration at the K of C, which started shortly after the 4 p.m. parade and continued well into the night.

Destiny Montgomery, daughter of Jamie Moody and Jon Montgomery, served as this year's Irish Princess. She is a 2020 graduate of RCHS and is studying to be a dental hygienist.

"Our Grand Marshal loved Rushville and the band was great," McCane said about this year's celebration.

Kevin Green: kevin.green@greensburgdailynews.com or 812-651-0885.