The annual Shamrock Run, a two-mile “fun run” through Kingston, will usher in all things Irish on Sunday, March 15. This year, the Run is being held, rain or shine, in memory of Tom Casey, and part of the proceeds will go to benefit the Caring Hands Soup Kitchen. In conjunction with the Ulster County Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), Team Ireland, a committee of the Irish Cultural Center of the Hudson Valley, has also posed a new challenge for the community: that of surpassing the Guinness World Record for the largest kilt race. To date, this illustrious record is held by the Perth Running Goats Club of Ontario, Canada, boasting a whopping total of 1,764 kilt-wearing runners in one race.
A long-sleeved tee-shirt will be given to the first 3,000 entrants, which can be picked up on Saturday, March 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the foot of Broadway along the Rondout Creek. Race Day check-in and registration take place from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Governor Clinton Apartments.
Started in 1988, the Shamrock Run has always preceded Kingston’s AOH-co-sponsored St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which is now celebrating its 28th year with Kieran Devlin as Grand Marshal, Beth Hanigan as Mayor of the Day, Claire Hannah Ryan as Irish Princess and Evan Jackson as the Bearer of St. Patrick. Touted to be the biggest parade of its kind from here to New York City, it gathers at Kingston Plaza in Uptown and steps off at 1 p.m. to follow the runners to the Rondout.
The Run is set to start at exactly 12:50 p.m. on March 15 at Academy Green, across from the Governor Clinton Apartments on Albany Avenue. Runners will then hoof it down Broadway and into the Rondout District. There, at the Rondout Neighborhood Center, the traditional Post-Race Party will welcome them with shamrock cookies, green bagels and beverages (ID required).
Runners will not be timed, and all participants will be entered into a drawing to win the Grand Prize of two round-trip tickets to Ireland or a second-place prize of a one-year membership to Mac Fitness.
Shamrock Run 2015, Sunday, March 15, 12:50 p.m., Academy Green, Albany Avenue, Kingston; https://shamrockrun.org/index.html.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Sunday, March 15, 1 p.m., Kingston Plaza, Kingston; www.ulsteraoh.com.
Join the family! 
