The Worcester County St Patrick’s Parade Committee has selected Worcester State University President Barry Maloney to be Grand Marshal of the 2027 Worcester County St. Patrick’s Parade March 14, 2027.
“I am honored to be selected as the Grand Marshal for the 2027 Worcester St. Patrick’s Parade,” said President Maloney. “It is so humbling to be included on the long list of distinguished Irish-Americans and friends of Ireland who have led this wonderful community tradition of celebrating Irish heritage. I look forward to greeting families, community members, Worcester State alumni, and friends of the university out on the parade route this spring.”
The Worcester County St. Patrick’s Parade is annual tradition that draws thousands of families to Park Avenue. The Parade Committee selects a Grand Marshal based on a variety of criteria, including that person’s contributions to the local community and Irish roots. President Maloney is a proud fourth generation Irish-American with family roots in County Clare and County Cork.
“We are so thrilled to have Worcester State University President Maloney as the Grand Marshal for this our 45th annual St. Patrick’s Parade,” said Erin Zamarro, chairperson of the St. Patrick’s Parade Committee. “Worcester State is a pillar of this community and under President Maloney, the university continues to strengthen the bridges of cultural and academic exchange with Ireland. President Maloney’s leadership, deep commitment and service to the community, and his connections to Ireland truly exemplify the spirit of the St. Patrick’s Parade.”
For the past decade, President Maloney has cultivated strong international partnerships, including formal academic relationships with three Irish universities: Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Ulster University and the University of Limerick. Each year, Worcester State welcomes college students and delegations from Ireland and Northern Ireland, and Worcester State students complete study abroad programs there in a variety of fields including nursing, environmental studies and literature. In November, the university will host a delegation from Ireland that includes Irish university partners.
The partnerships with Irish universities have “enriched Worcester State in so many ways,” Maloney said, providing students with valuable experiential learning opportunities and exposure to different cultures. Maloney also noted the personal significance of the visit for many Worcester State students who trace their roots back to Ireland.
In 2025, Worcester State conferred honorary doctoral degrees to two prominent female Irish civic leaders from the Derry and Strabane District Council in Northern Ireland, and County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland. The two-day visit by the two Irish mayors, Niamh Kennedy and Lilian Seenoi Barr, included visits classroom visits to speak with students and a fireside chat, “Profiles in Women’s Leadership,” moderated by Dr. Lisa Colombo, chair of Worcester State’s Board of Trustees and chief executive of ForHealth Consulting at UMass Chan Medical School. The honorary degrees awarded to Barr and Kennedy served to cement university connections and highlight the university’s commitment to international cooperation and global engagement.
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