St. Patrick’s Day Parade Dignitaries

Mr. Pat 2024

Jim Flaherty

Co-Owner of Pauly’s Pub & Grill, Co-Owner and Founder of Core Communications

Mr. Pat is the king figure of the St. Patrick’s Day parade and counterpart to Miss Shamrock. He embodies the spirit of Saint Patrick's Day and St. Paul’s Irish community. Each year, Mr. Pat alumni choose a gentleman prominent in the St. Paul community to adorn the signature green jacket and represent the Association.  

2024 Grand Marshal

David McCabe

Commander, SPPD

The Grand Marshal is a notable member of the St. Paul community who is honored by leading the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

During his career, Commander McCabe has served as the President of the Emerald Society of Minnesota. The Emerald Society is the Irish-American Law Enforcement Association and operates as a charitable group here in Minnesota. Commander McCabe has also worked closely with the Irish Fair of Minnesota and the Saint Patrick’s Association of Saint Paul to ensure their events are safe and successful. 

Commander McCabe currently lives in Saint Paul with his wife and two sons. He is honored to serve and humbled by this honor.

2024 Celebrity Grand Marshal

Dan Patrick

Radio Hall of Fame Sports Journalist and Host

Along with the Grand Marshal, the Celebrity Grand Marshall leads the St. Patrick’s Day parade while bringing notoriety and attention to the event.

Dan Patrick is one of America's legendary sports journalists and a revered member of the national media industry.  In 2021 he was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame and in 2020, he was inducted into the National Sports Media Association (NSMA) Hall of Fame. Winning the 2018 and 2012 Marconi Award for Network/Syndicated Personality of the Year, “The Dan Patrick Show” is known for extensive A-list interviews from the world of sports entertainment. Nationally syndicated by FOX Sports Radio, the program airs on more than 360 stations nationwide, in addition to being available on FOX Sports Radio’s channel on iHeartRadio and www.FOXSportsRadio.com. The show also streams on Peacock every weekday, with the show’s audio available on NBC Sports Audio Channel 85 on SiriusXM. Patrick also hosts the Amazon Music Original, “That Scene with Dan Patrick.” Additionally, Patrick signed a deal with iHeartMedia in 2020 to launch The Dan Patrick Podcast Network. The agreement includes a slate of iHeartRadio original podcasts that are co-produced by Patrick, iHeartPodcasts and Workhouse Media, including: “Dan Patrick Takes a Gamble,” “Playing Dirty: Sports Scandals” and others.  For more information, visit www.DanPatrick.com.

Distinguished Irish Woman

Mary Sue McFarland Brooks

Board Chair of Irish Network Minnesota and retired Public Affairs Coordinator for MNDOT

Each year, the honor of Distinguished Irish Woman is given to a hardworking Irish woman who has done outstanding work in her field and the community.

Mary Sue McFarland Brooks, Board Chair of Irish Network Minnesota and retired Public Affairs Coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Transportation, is a pivotal member of St. Paul’s Irish Community. She is 100% Irish American with her four corners being McFarland, Reagan, O’Hanlon, and Farrell. During her time at MnDOT, she was responsible for communications involving aeronautics, passenger rail, and civil rights and community engagement. In addition, she has served as an adjunct professor in public speaking at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. 

May Sue’s contributions to the Irish Community include founding and serving as President of the Irish Network Minnesota chapter as well as being a founding member of Failte Minnesota. She is also a Committee Chair and former President of the St. Patrick’s Association, and the Editor for Irish Gazette Media, an Irish American publication and social media company. 

Honorary Irish Person

Joe Kasel

Co-owner Pauly’s Pub & Grill

St. Patrick’s Day may be an Irish holiday, but it's a day for everyone to enjoy. Each year the Association names a non-Irish member of the community as its Honorary Irish Person. While this person is not necessarily Irish, he or she embodies the spirit and character of the Irish and the holiday.

Joe Kasel is an experienced St. Paul restaurateur. He is the former owner of Eagle Street Grille, Ox Cart Ale House, and the Salt Cellar. Recently, he opened Pauly’s Pub & Grill with Jim Flaherty, 2024 Mr. Pat. It is a great new neighborhood pub with great burgers, drinks, and atmosphere,