The Finnegan's Wake video is comprised of
parade clips taken in some of the earlier years.
History of the New Dublin Finnegan's Wake
The Finnegan's Wake tradition
actually has its roots in what began years ago as a lark.
While the local police were occupied at the high school watching
over school traffic and other juveniles, Mike Coyle, Judy
McDaniel, Fluff Barrington, Dave Mulroy, and others decided to
take a department store dummy in an old wicker coffin and carry
him from Coyle's Tire to the Midtown Restaurant performing an
Irish Wake. In fact, it became the first “Finnegan’s Wake” in
New London, in their own impromptu St. Patrick’s Day parade.
When it was found out, they were told if they wanted to do this
the next year they needed a permit. No one imagined then
that this humble beginning in 1983 would grow into the largest
St. Patrick’s Day parade with an Irish Fest in the state of Wisconsin.
Finnegan's Wake Today
Each March the New Dublin Finnegan's
Wake makes various appearances during the
schedule of St. Patrick's Day festivities. This
includes Friday night at Pup's Irish Pub for a wake service,
the Grand Parade and
Irish
Fest on Saturday.