Peter Carroll Elected Grand Marshal of St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The Greater Bridgeport St Patrick's Day Celebration Committee elected a new Grand Marshal for the 2019 Parade, Peter Carroll of Stratford. Carroll is the Business Manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 488, President of the Fairfield County Building Trades and a member of the well-known philanthropic family.

"Peter Carroll has been a major sponsor of our parade for many years as well as many other important charitable and cultural institutions in greater Bridgeport so I am pleased the committee voted to recognize Peter for his dedication to our community,” stated Fred Garrity Jr., Committee Treasurer who recommended Peter Carroll. “Peter Carroll will make a dynamic Grand Marshal because he embraces his Irish heritage and his family is a pillar of the Bridgeport community," Garrity added.

Carroll grew up in Bridgeport and has been a Stratford resident for the past 40 years. He is a former member of the Stratford Planning Commission, Recreational Commission and has served as a Justice of the Peace. He is a past international president of the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials (IAABO) and has been a member for over 40 years. He is a supporter of many other programs like Swim Across the Sound, Barnum Festival and Cardinal Shehan Center.

As a Grand Marshal, Carroll will receive his official silk sash and green blazer at the Grand Marshal’s Ball from 2018 Grand Marshals Ann Marie and David Curtin. The annual event will be held at the Gaelic-American Club on Saturday, January 19, 2019. It is a major fundraiser for the parade which will be held in Downtown Bridgeport on Friday, March 15, 2019. It takes about $75,000 annually to pay for the parade and fund its scholarship program.

Peter Carroll is the third Carroll to be a Grand Marshal. His brother Bill was Grand Marshal in 1992 and his brother Frank was Grand Marshal in 2011. Peter has been married for 43 years to his wife Joan. He has two daughters, Lisa married to Keith Fabian and has daughters Paige and Taylor; and Meghan married to Jerome White and has sons Miles and Colin.

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade has been a Downtown Bridgeport tradition since 1983 and has been held in rain, sleet, snow, wind and sunshine. The original parade Committee was formed back in 1982 when Bridgeport Mayor Leonard S. Paoletta asked City Clerk Catherine C. Brannelly to organize a St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Martin Reidy was the first Grand Marshal.

For more information about The Greater Bridgeport St Patrick's Day Parade, visit: Greater Bridgeport St. Patrick's Day Parade Celebration