2016 Denver St. Patrick's Day Parade, Presented by Bellco, Announces Grand Marshal Adrian Farrell, Irish Consul General to the Southwestern United States

DENVER, March 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Cead Mile Failte (a hundred thousand welcomes) from the Denver St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee. In commemoration of 100 years of Irish Independence, the board of directors announces the Grand Marshal and honored guest, Adrian Farrell. The first Irish Consul General to the southwestern United States will lead the Denver St. Patrick's Day Parade, presented by Bellco.

The parade, the largest Irish cultural celebration west of the Mississippi, will step off at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 12^th and will wind through Lower Downtown. The parade will begin at the corner of 19th and Wynkoop, then turn left on 17th Street to Blake Street. Then it will march east on Blake and end at 27th and Blake at the Coors Field parking lot.

An estimated 350,000 people lined the streets of the Mile High City to enjoy last year's parade. New York and Chicago have some stiff competition when the Irish spirit is unleashed right here in Denver. This year's theme, Irish Stampede, pays tribute to the great western movement to Colorado and its Irish heritage for all who call Colorado home.

The 54^th Grand Marshal serves as the first Irish Consul General to the southwestern U.S. The Consulate's priorities include building stronger links between Ireland and the southwest through engaging with the Irish community, advancing Irish economic initiatives and promoting partnerships at all levels between Ireland and the states of the southwest US. The Consulate works closely with our partners IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland who are based in Ireland House Austin. The links between Ireland and the United States of America run deep over several centuries and wide across many sectors – historical, cultural, social, sporting, business and political. The unique nature of the Ireland-U.S. relationship is underlined by the more than 30 million Americans who claim some ancestral connection with Ireland.

He will lead the participants, consisting of more than 10,000 marchers and 200 entrants including pipe bands; step dancers; floats; police, fire and emergency service agencies; military members; equestrians; charities; marching bands; businesses and our city's dignitaries in a truly amazing event.

2016 marks the eleventh year Bellco has served as the presenting sponsor. "Bellco is proud to once again sponsor this long-standing celebration, which brings our community together to celebrate our diverse culture," said John Rivera, Bellco senior vice president and chief retail officer. "We thank the parade organizers on behalf of our employees and more than 250,000 members, for their hard work in creating this exciting tradition."

The 2016 Queen Colleen, Kate Kelly will reign over the parade and represent the Irish community. Queen Colleen refers to an Irish maiden whose character reflects compassion, kindness, intellect, social responsibility and of course, her Irish heritage. She holds a degree in International Business and Marketing from the University of Denver. She studied abroad in Dublin, Ireland which solidified her lifelong interest in Irish culture, history and its presence in Colorado. She was born and raised in Denver and has always known of her ancestral Irish roots through her parents, Maureen and George Kelly, whose lineages both originate in County Cork and Mayo in Ireland.

Kate is an International Account Specialist in the Nutrition Division for Leprino Foods, a leading global distributor of dairy products, including the UK. Kate currently serves on the board of the Irish Network Colorado, which is a business network that connects Irish expatriates, Irish-Americans and friends of Ireland. She will continue to promote and strengthen the economic, social, and cultural ties between Irish and American businesses in Colorado and between the U.S. and Ireland.

For more information visit: www.denverstpatricksdayparade.com.

About Bellco 
Bellco is one of Colorado's largest financial institutions, with more than $3 billion in assets and 21 branches in Colorado. Founded in 1936, Bellco offers a full range of financial products and services including mortgages, auto loans and checking accounts. Today, Bellco has more than 250,000 members who benefit from the advantages of a credit union, including lower interest rates on loans, higher yields on savings and access to thousands of ATMs nationwide. Bellco actively supports the community by donating funds and employee volunteer hours to many Denver-area and Grand Junction organizations. "Like" Bellco on Facebook or "follow" @Bellco_CU on Twitter. Bellco is federally insured by NCUA and an Equal Housing Lender.

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SOURCE Bellco