THE descendant of an African slave and an Irish horse farmer in Kentucky marched as the selected "Gael of the Year" at the St Patrick's Day Parade in Washington yesterday.
TV journalist Paul Berry was also selected this year as one of the Top 100 Irish Americans at a ceremony in New York last Friday. He is noted for his work with. Friends of Ireland, which brings children from Northern Ireland to the US each year for a holiday, and he has also produced a TV documentary, Children Living in the Troubles.
The theme of the parade this year was "Irish Who Built America". Floats recalled different phases of the lives and work of Irish immigrants, as the parade made its way along Constitution Avenue to the reviewing stand at the Ellipse park beside the White House.
The Grand Marshal, Mr Thomas Donahue, was a senior figure in the AFL CIO labour federation for many years. He rode in the traditional horse drawn open coach.
Mr Donahue's grandfather was Michael Donahue from Kilmuckridge, Co Wexford. His grandmother was Margaret Reilly of Mullagh, Co Cavan.
Irish American organisations were well represented at the parade. These included the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Police Emerald Society of Washington with its pipe bands and Irish dancing groups.
Children from Northern Ireland represented the Project Children organisation.
Mr Berry, who was cheered by the crowds lining the parade route, told reporters he had developed "quite a taste for Guinness". "The joke is that I was a redheaded Irishman until I drank so much beer that I became dark."