MONROE - It makes sense that Skip Brennan is the grand marshal at Monroe St. Patrick's Day Parade next month.
Brennan was one of the people who started the Irish holiday tradition in the county known for it's Swiss heritage and Swiss Cheese.
He's also 100 percent Irish, and he said it's an honor to be the parade's grand marshal.
It might seem strange that the Irish would have their own parade in light of the influence of Swiss heritage in Green County.
"I tell people that there are only a couple of Irish families in Green County, but they like us so much they can't get rid of us," Brennan said.
The first parade took place about 25 years ago, he said.
Brennan, Marty Culhane, Mike Doyle and Jim Doyle were at Bullet's Restaurant on St. Patrick's Day talking about how it was too bad Monroe didn't have a parade.
"Mike piped up and said he had an Irish flag and he went and got it and we had a parade," Brennan said, with a laugh.
He said they stopped at a couple of taverns on the Square and then went back to Bullet's. Vicky Zimmerman, who is Swiss, Brennan said, was designated the flag bearer.
Brennan said Mike Doyle keeps the Irish flag hidden in a secret location in the Green County Courthouse. No one except for Doyle knows where it is.
"We joke that that's the reason he didn't want to move his office to the Justice Center. He didn't want anyone to know where the flag is," Brennan said jokingly.
He enjoys telling stories about the early parades in Monroe. With a slight smile and a sparkle in his eyes he talked about how one year a young reporter missed the parade and went to Bullet's to ask questions for a story.
"We told him there were 1,000 people in the parade and 10,000 people watching it," he said. "The next day, that's what he put in the paper."
Although the parade has grown since it was started, the number of participants and spectators hasn't reached those mythical numbers.
This year's parade takes place at 5:17 p.m., Wednesday, March 17. The parade goes around the Square. There will be a contest and cash prizes for all parade units. The floats will be judged at 4:30 p.m. There is no cost to enter the parade or the contest.
More information about the parade is available by calling Jim or Veronica Bruce at 329-4204.
Brennan was one of the people who started the Irish holiday tradition in the county known for it's Swiss heritage and Swiss Cheese.
He's also 100 percent Irish, and he said it's an honor to be the parade's grand marshal.
It might seem strange that the Irish would have their own parade in light of the influence of Swiss heritage in Green County.
"I tell people that there are only a couple of Irish families in Green County, but they like us so much they can't get rid of us," Brennan said.
The first parade took place about 25 years ago, he said.
Brennan, Marty Culhane, Mike Doyle and Jim Doyle were at Bullet's Restaurant on St. Patrick's Day talking about how it was too bad Monroe didn't have a parade.
"Mike piped up and said he had an Irish flag and he went and got it and we had a parade," Brennan said, with a laugh.
He said they stopped at a couple of taverns on the Square and then went back to Bullet's. Vicky Zimmerman, who is Swiss, Brennan said, was designated the flag bearer.
Brennan said Mike Doyle keeps the Irish flag hidden in a secret location in the Green County Courthouse. No one except for Doyle knows where it is.
"We joke that that's the reason he didn't want to move his office to the Justice Center. He didn't want anyone to know where the flag is," Brennan said jokingly.
He enjoys telling stories about the early parades in Monroe. With a slight smile and a sparkle in his eyes he talked about how one year a young reporter missed the parade and went to Bullet's to ask questions for a story.
"We told him there were 1,000 people in the parade and 10,000 people watching it," he said. "The next day, that's what he put in the paper."
Although the parade has grown since it was started, the number of participants and spectators hasn't reached those mythical numbers.
This year's parade takes place at 5:17 p.m., Wednesday, March 17. The parade goes around the Square. There will be a contest and cash prizes for all parade units. The floats will be judged at 4:30 p.m. There is no cost to enter the parade or the contest.
More information about the parade is available by calling Jim or Veronica Bruce at 329-4204.