Every year at 4:03 pm on St. Patrick’s Day you will find people of all ages lining the streets of Cameron, Missouri. The small town comes together for a celebration like no other.
History of Cameron Tradition
On St. Patrick’s Day of 1980 Frank McQuinn, John Pete O’Connell, and Jim O’Connor decided to impart their Irish roots in their community. They layed out a plan for the first St. Patrick’s Day parade in Cameron.
A committee was formed to bring the idea to reality. The charter members that teamed up with the founders were Pat McQuinn, Mary O’Connell, John O’Connor, Barbara O’Connor, Sue Ensign and Maggie Melvin.
On Tuesday, March 17, 1981 the first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in Cameron.
The committee knew they wanted the parade to be after school so kids could come and enjoy the festivities. They decided to start the parade at 4:00 pm.
The first year didn’t start until 4:03 pm. From that day forward it stuck.
The parade is always held on St. Patrick’s Day unless St. Patty’s falls on a Sunday. Then the parade is held on the Saturday before.
The rock in McCorkle Park is said to be from Ireland. Local legend has it there is a bit of a secret about the rock.
Cameron’s Irish Heritage
Cameron, MO has a deep rooted Irish history. For those that came to America it was an opportunity to buy land, offered jobs, and freedom of faith. A few of the original families that settled in Cameron came from Limerick, Ireland. According to Jim O’Connor,
“the name of the Catholic Church there is St. Munchin. So when they came here and settled they picked the name St. Munchin. There are only two St. Munchin Catholic Chuches in world.”
The Parade Today
In 1991 the Knights of Columbus Council #1110 of Cameron took over the duties of the parade.
Each year a local resident is recognized as the Grand Marshall of the parade. Local businesses participate with special promotions. The Altar Society hosts a luncheon featuring Irish stew at St. Munchins Catholic Church. You will even hear the bag pipes downtown.
The parade starts at what was formerly the Post Office (now John A. Dorsch, D.D.S., M.S. on East 4th Street) and ending a McCorkle’s Eatery & Pub…Where everyone knows your name.
So if you’re ever in Cameron on March 17th, follow the green stripe painted on Third Street. A reminder that the luck of the Irish is here to stay!
