Mary Higgins Clark On Leading the St. Patrick’s Parade

@HoundofUlster at 09.00AM - I have just learned, with great, great jealousy and much dismay that New Yorkers descended from Scottish people (of which most hounds of Ulster and their bitches also are) get to celebrate their Scottish heritage during Tartan Week in NYC every year! For a whole WEEK??!! And the Irish only get ONE DAY??? O lordie lordie.... Where can I sign up for a Certificate of Scottish Heritage? Btw Hound – mind yer trap – wasn’t it Burns who wrote the immortal words (in plain Scottish English from me): “Would that God gie us the gift to see ourselves as ithers see us”. A Week’s celebrations? - eating that foul haggis??? An’... an’... oh lordie, what a joy!... an’ drrrrinking whiskey? You’d probably wake up in time for next year and your breath might possibly have lost its foul stench (j/k ya.... enjoy Paddy’s Day too).

This has been a great read, thanks Patricia. Good luck o' the Irish to Mary Higgins on this coming St. Patrick's Day.

Mary hope you really enjoy the parade and thanks for the good books over the years.

Me Life on yea' Mary!!!

Ah, the American dream. To leasd a bunch of drunks down 5th Avenue and insult the Saint>

A great writer and a wonderful person. get an ould donkey out M ary and ride it up fifth avenue.......slainte

I enjoyed reading MHClark's inspiring personal story. Wonder if she's considered a memoir. Great choice as Grand Marshall!

Mary is the best Irish American to lead the parade. She never forgot her Irish roots and manages to always present the Irish with respect in her books. Her kind of Irish American is what the Parade is all about. Great Choice. If you want to understand her generations experience as children of immigrants read her stories about growing up in the Bronx,her Irish relatives and a time when New York was truly Irish.

Of course she's marching as a heterosexual: look at that frock.

MHC is class personified. I have interviewed her many times and am always humbled and inspired by her story, down-to-earth nature, and chutzpah! An excellent choice to represent Irish Americans!