FUN WITH MAPS ISSUE 2026-043

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (March 17, – St Patrick’s Day – 2026) – This issue of Fun with Maps celebrates the patron saint and Apostle of Ireland – St. Patrick.

HAPPY ST PATRICK’S DAY

Over last weekend and today many US cities will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a parade, but the first St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the US was held in a very un-Irish place.

Celebrating its 425th anniversary, the first organized Wearing of the Green was in 1601 in St. Augustine, Florida where the Irish saint was feted as the protector of the maize fields. In fact it’s the oldest St. Patrick’s Day parade celebration in the world, with the first in Ireland in 1903. 

(NOTE: Bonus map image of Ireland for this special St Patrick’s Day edition of Fun with Maps) 

Of course, New York City and Boston are the loudest to claim their Irish roots, but their parades began in 1762 and 1737, respectively.  NYC probably can lay claim to the largest crowds since 200,000-300,000 marchers show up every year and several million people line the streets to watch.

St. Patrick’s Day was recognized as a Church Feast in 1631.  The church holiday meant that pubs in Ireland had to be closed, a law not changed until 1970.  Horribly ironic for a day associated with Guinness and green beer.

Ruth White created this pictorial map of Florida in 1938.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.