St. Patrick's Day Parade dedicated to late Steelers chairman, ambassador to Ireland
This year's Pittsburgh St. Patrick's Day Parade is being dedicated to the late Daniel M. Rooney.
The Irish-American Pittsburgh native served as the U.S. ambassador to Ireland from 2009 through 2012 and was the longtime president and later chairman of the Steelers, which brought home six Super Bowl wins under his guidance.
“It's extremely rare that we dedicate the entire parade to one individual,” parade chairman Mac McCafferty said in a news release.
McCafferty said the proposal to honor Rooney received unanimous support from parade organizers after his death in April at 84.
Members of the Rooney family and Steelers representatives will participate in the parade, scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. March 17.
Rooney's legacy will be celebrated with recognition on official parade T-shirts and at related pre-parade events and activities.
Jim Rooney, one of Dan Rooney's children, said the family is honored.
“My father always loved the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade,” he said. “In the 1950s, he was involved in the planning of the parade and marched in it every year back then. ... No matter what the task, his Irish heritage was a proud staple in everything that he did.”
Dan Rooney was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006. He played a major, leaguewide role by helping to end two player strikes, ushering the NFL into free agency and originating the Rooney Rule for minority hiring of coaches and executives.
Dan Rooney, along with Pittsburgh businessman Anthony J.F. O'Reilly, created The Ireland Fund, which later merged with the American Irish Foundation to create the American Ireland Fund, the leading charitable organization benefiting Ireland.
Rooney was a driving force in the fund's success, helping with its mission of promoting programs of peace and reconciliation, arts and culture, education and community development throughout Ireland.
More parade information is available at pittsburghirish.org/parade.
Jeff Himler is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-836-6622, jhimler@tribweb.com or via Twitter @jhimler_news.
