It's confirmed. An Garda Síochána will be marching in the 2024 New York St. Patrick's Day Parade.
Parade officials had moved to reinstate a marching unit of uniformed Garda after initially declaring it to be on the outs - this after parade officials working on Fifth Avenue complained of misbehavior in the 2023 march.
And now that reinstatement is confirmed in ink. Gardai are listed in the Line of March for the upcoming parade, set for Saturday, March 16.
The Irish police will be marching directly behind the Kaukauna High School Marching Band from Kaukauna, Wisconsin.
And they will march past the Irish government's Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, who is to attend the parade.
The allegations of misbehavior in 2023, followed by the exclusion and then reinstatement, prompted the resignation of parade Formation chair Reilly Dundon and other formation officials.
Parade chairman Sean Lane expressed his regret at Dundon's decision - which Dundon attributed to that reinstatement.
Along the way there appeared to be some transatlantic confusion over how marching units actually make it to Fifth Avenue.
The Garda seemed to think that it depended on an invitation, but parade officials have pointed to an initial application process that paves the way for approval to march.
Regardless of precise process, parade spectators will be able to cheer for the parading Gardai along with all the other marching groups on the 16th.
The full Line of March will be included in the Echo's St. Patrick's Day special issue, on the streets on Wednesday, March 13.
