Las Vegans set to celebrate on St. Patrick’s Day

Denise Cardinal

Monday, March 16, 1998 | 9:52 a.m.

Las Vegas seems to be the perfect place for the Irish.

Not because it reminds them of their home land. Not because of the mounds of green money that pass through the casinos every day.

Not because of Fitzgerald's hotel-casino.

It's because Vegas knows how to party.

Known throughout the globe as party animals, descendants of the Emerald Isle would be hard-pressed to find a finer location to swig a pint of Guiness while singing "Danny Boy."

And there is no shortage of places to do that in Las Vegas on Tuesday.

Residents will don their green to watch the St. Patrick's Day parade and attend block parties throughout the city. And though Las Vegas isn't known for its Irish-American population as much as other cities like Chicago or New York, the city -- the entire state of Nevada -- should be grateful to the Irish.

Back in the 1860s and 70s, during the potato famine in Ireland, millions of Irish fled to the United States in hopes of finding work. And thousands of them were responsible for working in the Nevada mines, starting the state's economy.

More recently, the Irish have shaped the city's political and business culture, ading a sense of jovial mischief that can only be described as -- well, Irish.

Take John Mowbray Sr., who died this past year. His son, a lawyer in Las Vegas, tells stories of what St. Patrick's Day was like as a child living on 15th Street.

"He, and his friend would get up at about 6:30 a.m.," Mowbray Jr. said. "They'd go outside and shoot off muskets and shotguns. If you did that today, they'd go to jail. But they'd let them off and they'd echo all the way to Gorman High School.'

Some of the locals' fondest memories involve the St. Patrick's Day parade.

Like a true Irishman, Mowbray Sr. loved to sing, and during the St. Patrick's Day parade would serenade the grand marshal with "Danny Boy."

Las Vegas City Councilman Michael McDonald remembers walking the parade route as a child next to his father.

"It was awesome," McDonald said. "It was one of my biggest dreams as a child to be in a parade. You know, kids usually just watch."

McDonald will be in this year's parade, throwing green beads and candy from his signature Corvette.

In its 32nd year, the 1998 St. Patrick's Day parade's grand marshal is Jackie Gaughan, owner of The Plaza and the El Cortez casino-hotels. Sponsored by the Sons of Erin, the route ends up on Fremont Street where there will be a free St. Patrick's Day party from noon to 3 p.m. and then from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Maxim hotel-casino is also hosting a block party from 11:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. Both will feature live entertainment.