Parade grand marshals bring Irish legacy to St. Patrick’s Day event
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Irish roots run deep for the family heading St. Joseph’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, with a legacy that stretches back to County Cork on the Emerald Isle.
The Supple family will act as grand marshals for this year’s parade, which begins at noon on Saturday, March 15, at Frederick Avenue and Noyes Boulevard before making its way along Frederick to Downtown to Eighth and Felix streets.
When Patrick Supple came to the U.S. in 1912, he worked as a farmer for his brother in Iowa. He eventually settled in Atchison, Kansas, where we had seven kids.
“One of them being my dad, Jim Supple, who also had seven kids. I’m one of seven. Me and six sisters, all sympathy appreciated.” Tom Supple said.
Tom Supple and his siblings, along with their spouses and children, are helping defy gravity with their “magical” themed float this year.
“We have a family castle, Supple Castle in County Cork,” Supple said.
With an estate like that in its lineage, the “Wicked” theme for the Supple float is fitting for the family.
The honor of being grand marshals was given to the family by St. Joseph’s John Corby division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, which looks for individuals or families with a rich Irish heritage to head the parade each year.
One of six sisters, Mary Supple Bish said building parade floats for more than 30 years now allows the family to come together and make the most of the Irish weekend.
“We start the day early with green doughnuts at my house, and we do the parade,” Bish said. “Then we all get together and have corn beef and cabbage. We just try to spend the day together and usually the next day until everyone has to hit the road and go home.”
The celebration allows their parents’ legacy to continue to be passed on, Bish said.
“Since they passed, we like to carry on the tradition of having the parade every year,” Bish said.
When asked about their family’s impact on St. Joseph, Tom Supple describes it as more than fun but also years of tradition.
“In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day, up until recently, has been a religious holiday celebrated by going to Mass,” he said. “So we acknowledge that, but we realize there’s a party going on too, and we want to celebrate that too.”
