ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE
Parade Dignitaries

2024 IRISH GUEST OF HONOR

Patrick O’Donovan, TD

Patrick O’Donovan is the Minister of State with responsibility for Office of Public Works and the Gaeltacht. Patrick previously served as Minister of State at the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with special responsibility for Public Procurement, Open Government and eGovernment, from June 2017 until June 2020. He previously served as Minister of State for Tourism and Sport. in 2016-17. He was first elected to the Dáil in February 2011.

Patrick was first elected to Limerick County Council in June 2004, topping the poll at the age of 27 with 1,485 first preference votes while also working as an industrial chemist. In a short time on the council, Patrick’s reputation as a fighter for issues earned him the honor of being elected the youngest Fine Gael Group Leader in Ireland by his fellow party members. His work was also recognized by his constituents who re-elected him with 2,254 votes in 2009. During this time he had also taken on the task of going back to college and becoming a primary school teacher. Patrick has held a number of positions during his time on the council as well as maintaining an active involvement with a number of charitable, cultural and sporting organizations.

2024 HONORARY PARADE MARSHAL

Commissioner Robert Tracy

Chief Robert J. Tracy has more than 30 years of law enforcement experience with the New York Police Department and Chicago Police Department, including top executive law enforcement leadership positions in New York City and a top-level law enforcement leadership position in the City of Chicago. He previously served as the Chief of Police for the City of Wilmington, Delaware from 2017-2022.

Chief Tracy built a distinguished record of achievement and advancement through his positions with the New York Police Department. Chief Tracy was the Commander of a newly created Firearms Suppression Division, responsible for the coordination of tasks across several citywide units. He also served as the Commander of the Firearms Investigation Unit, working with Organized Crime Investigation Division and ATF/NYPD Joint Firearms Task Force. Chief Tracy led the Violent Felony Squad, the NYPD/U.S. Marshal Regional Task Force, and supervised the Bronx/Manhattan Warrant Squads.

In Chicago, Chief Tracy held the position as the principal Crime Control Strategist. In this capacity, Chief Tracy instituted various strategies that greatly affected crime statistics.

As the Chief of Police for the Wilmington Department of Police, Chief Tracy continued the course with his strategies. He has created and instituted the CompStat process along with developing and streamlining the department’s methods for Intelligence-Based Policing. Chief Tracy has also implemented Group Violence Intervention in conjunction with the National Network of Safe Communities and John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City.

Chief Tracy holds a Masters in Public Administration from Marist College and a Bachelor of Arts in History from SUNY, Empire State College, and has received professional training in various topics. He is currently a member of the ATF National Crime Gun Intelligence Governing Board; the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF); the International Association of Chiefs of Police/Private Sector Liaison Section; the Delaware Police Chiefs’ Association; and the Delaware Governor’s Juvenile Justice Advisory Group, as well as numerous other groups and boards.

Chief Tracy was born in the Bronx, New York City, NY, is married, and has five children.

2024 HONORARY MILITARY GUEST OF HONOR

TBD