Patrick Walsh was an integral part of Augusta’s Irish community during his lifetime, and on Friday, government officials and members of the Irish American Heritage Society brought his legacy into the area’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities.
The statue of Walsh, an Irish immigrant who served as the editor of The Augusta Chronicle as well as the city’s mayor and a U.S. Senator, donned his green top hat and Irish American sash.
“We have always cherished the presence of Patrick Walsh on this campus. He is entitled to a special place in facing the city of Augusta, in which he figured so prominently as a leader. This is a special time for us, it’s an enjoyable time. It’s sort of a prelude to St. Patrick’s Day,” said Judge Dudley Bowen Jr., senior United States District judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, at a brief ceremony Friday in front of the statue.
Walsh’s statue faces Telfair Street near the federal courthouse building in Barrett Plaza.
Walsh’s holiday attire includes a top hat made from a 5-gallon bucket that once contained sheet rock mud and a plywood brim. His sash is 12 feet long and was created by putting two sashes together.
Shaun Graham led a team who made sure the decoration got put into place.
“As everyone knows, Patrick Walsh was a very honorable man in our society, and someone, we look up to both literally and figuratively today,” said Sean Mooney, Irish American Heritage Society president.
The Patrick Walsh wearing of the green is one of several events members of the Irish American Heritage Society take part in leading up to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 17.
Other events included the Grand Marshal Ball on Feb.1, where the Grand Marshal, Irish Lady of the Year and Irish Family of the Year were announced and the Irish Lady tea on March 2.
Ray Brady, who has “long been a pillar of the Society,” was named Grand Marshal; Philomena “Phil” Mooney is the Irish Lady of the Year and The Thomas “Tommy” Poteet Family is the 2025 Irish Family of the Year.
The 48th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will return to Broad Street this year after being moved last year due to construction.
The March 17 parade begins at 2 p.m. at the parking lot of the former James Brown Arena, travelling on Seventh Street, turning left on Greene Street, right on 11th Street, right on Broad Street and ending at Sixth Street.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s a Georgia Press Association award winner. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
