LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — With less than two weeks until the 32nd annual Lima Irish Day Parade, organizers have announced this year’s grand marshal.
Father John McLoughlin of St. Gerard’s Catholic Church will serve as grand marshal for the 2026 Irish Day Parade.
McLoughlin, who grew up in Brooklyn, New York, has a strong Irish heritage, with both of his parents originally from Ireland. He became a Redemptorist priest and later came to Lima to serve at St. Gerard’s.
Being named grand marshal is an emotional honor for McLoughlin. In May 2025, Diocese of Toledo announced plans to withdraw the Redemptorists from St. Gerard’s and St. Mary of Bluffton, effective June 30 of this year. That makes this year’s recognition especially bittersweet for McLoughlin.
"I was very excited. I like to claim my Irish heritage. Unfortunately, the Redemptorists- we're going to be leaving St. Gerard's in June, so I think it's very fitting that I've been able to be named Grand Marshal and be part of it to celebrate the heritage here, many families we've got to known, so it's kind of bittersweet. We want to celebrate and invite everybody to come out. Our spirits go on. The Irish always say that. You know, we may leave but our spirits are still there when we bring people with us in our hearts," says Father John McLoughlin who was named Grand Marshal for the 2026 Lima Irish Day Parade.
The Lima Irish Day Parade will take place Saturday, March 14, beginning at noon at the corner of Robb Avenue and North Main Street.
For parade entries, organizers ask participants to call or text Darby Bourk at (419) 302-8089 or Julie Duffy at (567) 204-4595. After contact is made, the parade committee will finalize the lineup and send out arrival cards during the week of March 9.
