The Pipes Are Calling

Pride of Erin pub owner John Campbell leads this afternoon's St. Patrick's Day Parade as the grand marshal of the 141st edition of the high-stepping tribute to the Irish. The parade route starts at the staging area on the corner of Superior Avenue and East 18th Street. More than 10,000 marchers in bagpipe bands, precision drill teams, children's units, and on high-school floats will strut down Superior to East Roadway near Public Square. There, they'll swing north for one block to Rockwell Avenue, where they'll pass the reviewing stand at East Sixth Street. Symbolizing this year's theme, "Famous Women of Irish Descent," mom-of-four Kathleen Hough will take her place in the Irish Mother of the Year float behind Campbell — whose own Gaelic story isn't a bunch of blarney. Born in Ireland, he immigrated to Cleveland in 1957 to work in construction by day and party at the West Side Irish American Club by night. In 1982, he partnered with his best buddy to open Pride of Erin, which he now runs with son James on Lorain Avenue. Not bad for a dude who traces his humble beginnings to a family farm in County Mayo. The parade starts at 1 this afternoon at the corner of Superior Avenue and East 18th Street. Admission is free. Call 216-556-5183 or visit www.clevelandsirishparade.org.
Mon., March 17, 1 p.m., 2008