Ocean City, MD – After lengthy discussion and careful deliberation, the Delmarva Irish American Club (DIAC) has decided to cancel this weekend’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Ocean City. This decision was made with the safety and well-being of our club members, residents, visitors and parade-goers in mind. While this news is greatly disappointing to the entire DIAC, the unknown risks associated with the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and the recommendations by the State of Maryland and Center for Disease Control and Prevention outweigh our hope to host the annual parade.
“This was a no-win decision,” commented DIAC parade chairman Buck Mann. “We do not want to cancel the parade, but more importantly we do not want to put anyone at risk. Our hearts and our heads were conflicted, but in this case, the smart thing to do was listen to the guidance being given by health officials and err on the side of safety.”
The DIAC made the decision after Governor Hogan’s press conference yesterday afternoon. “All Marylanders need to understand and prepare that there may be significant disruption your daily lives for a period of time,” Governor Hogan stated during the press conference. “Local communities and cities should actively consider modifying, postponing or canceling mass gatherings.”
Despite the cancelation, the DIAC still believes in the luck of the Irish. “Our club has been hosting this event for more than 40 years,” Mann continued. “While the global spread of the COVID-19 has rained on our parade this year, we hope to be back bigger, and better than ever in 2021.”
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