2 guys walk into an Irish pub in Syracuse, and decades later end up leading our St. Patrick’s Parade

Syracuse, N.Y. — This has the makings of an ever-growing tale best told over a pint of Guinness. But it’s basically true: Two guys walk into an Irish bar in Syracuse and walk out 30 years later as grand marshals of our St. Patrick’s parade.

Those two guys are Marty Cahill and Dave Lynch, a couple of local barflies who have done a lot for Syracuse’s Irish community over the years. This morning, the parade committee assigned them the task of leading the 42nd St. Patrick’s Parade on March 16, 2024.

The grand marshal (or in the case of this year, marshals) is awarded to an “Irish American of Syracuse who has made a significant contribution to the entire community,” according to the parade committee.

Cahill is the chairman of the downtown Syracuse Irish Festival. He recruits musical acts from all over the world to perform in Clinton Square. He’s a founding partner of Locey & Cahill, an employee benefits consulting firm. He volunteers with charitable projects such as the Old Newsboys Christmas Drive, St. Patrick Hunger Project and St. Patrick’s Parish Annual Raffle.

You can find him pretty much every Tuesday holding court at the far left corner of Kitty Hoynes Irish Pub, except when he’s on one of his all-too-regular regular trips to Ireland.

“I’m beyond excited,” he said from his stool at Kitty’s during Tuesday’s happy hour. “It’s such an honor. I can’t wait. How many days is it until the parade?”

It’s 101 days from today.

Lynch is a 30-year member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and was named the Hibernian of the Year in 2000. He was among the early developers of the St. Patrick Hunger Project and volunteered with the Irish Festival. Professionally, Lynch has spent decades in sales, most recently in the golf industry for E-Z-GO. Like Cahill, he ends his workday at a local watering hole, be it Kitty Hoynes or Coleman’s Authentic Irish Pub.

Cahill and Lynch met as they were planning the first downtown Irish Fest.

“I didn’t know what I was doing. I had never put a festival together. I was terrified,” Cahill said. “Dave was calm and cool. He told me to relax, that everything was going to work out. And you know what? It did.”

The parade’s other top honor, called the Gael of the Year, goes to Lauren Kochian. She’s been the president of the Museum of Science & Technology since 2018. The Gael of the Year is given annually to a member of the community who demonstrates incredible dedication to the Syracuse community.

“This is a big deal. You know how I know that? My teenage kids said it’s really cool,” Kochian said.

The theme of the 2024 parade is “Kettle’s On: Loads of Room at the Table.” It celebrates the Irish tradition of hospitality. It also honors the support Central New York has shown for the St. Patrick Hunger Project, a nonprofit operated by the parade committee which collects food and money for local food pantries.

Here is a schedule of upcoming events for the St. Patrick’s Parade Committee:

Dec. 10: Hunger Project Holiday Raffle event, 2 to 6 p.m., Nibsy’s Irish Pub, 201 Ulster St. Fundraiser for Hunger Project, all proceeds benefit the hungry. (To date, the project has raised more than $1 million).

Jan. 1-Feb. 28: Parade applications accepted from marching units at syracusestpatricksparade.org.

Jan. 12: Tickets for Lights on the Lake this day are $5 each, with all proceeds going back to St. Patrick’s Hunger Project.

March 9: 19th annual Tipperary Hill Shamrock Run, Burnet Park, Syracuse, 4-mile run at 11 a.m. with fun run at 10 a.m. Participants and spectators are asked to bring non-perishable food items to donate or to make a monetary donation to benefit the Hunger Project. For information, go to tipphillrun.com.

March 10: Parade kickoff party/fundraiser at Kitty Hoynes, 1 p.m. Local musicians will perform.

March 15: Painting of the Green Stripe on South Salina Street, 9:30 am. The Grand Marshal Gala with cocktails, food stations and entertainment at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown, 6 p.m.

March 16: Parade Day Mass at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, downtown Syracuse, 10 a.m.; 42nd Syracuse St. Patrick’s Parade, noon, downtown Syracuse. The parade steps off at Clinton Square and heads south along Salina Street. After the parade, the Marriott Syracuse Downtown will host a party featuring Irish music and dance. NewsChannel 9 WSYR will broadcast the parade live from noon until 3 p.m.

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Charlie Miller finds the best in food, drink and fun across Central New York. Contact him at (315) 382-1984, or by email at cmiller@syracuse.com. You can also find him under @HoosierCuse on Twitter and on Instagram. Sign up for his free weekly Where Syracuse Eats newsletter here.