Munich turns green this weekend. The highlight of the celebrations for the Irish national holiday St. Patrick’s Day is the parade on Sunday; the organizers are expecting 1,400 participants and up to 40,000 onlookers. The procession is led by Siobhán Freidank: The Irishwoman has lived in Munich for 40 years and was there at the very first Munich St. Patrick’s Day.
SZ: You are the “Grand Marshal” for the first time this year, what exactly is your job?
Siobhán Freidank: My job is to lead and lead the parade. I’ll be the first to go ahead and make sure everything goes smoothly.
How did you prepare for this role?
I’ve been there since the first parade in 1996 and have seen it often enough – so I didn’t have to prepare specifically for it. A fundamental difference compared to previous years, however, is that I don’t have to work as much in the background: so the preparations were much more relaxed for me this year.
To what extent has Munich’s St. Patrick’s Day changed since the first parade in 1996?
At the beginning the parade was much smaller: only a few Irish dance groups and clubs took part. Many German groups and clubs are now taking part – some even travel from northern Germany just for this reason. Guests also come from Ireland who are fascinated by the parade.
Munich’s St. Patrick’s Day is the biggest in mainland Europe: Why is the holiday so popular in Munich?
On the one hand, a lot of Irish people live in Munich. For others, despite its size, Munich’s St. Patrick’s Day has remained familiar and open: we all share a love of life and a common passion for Ireland. This weekend everyone can be Irish – no matter where they come from.
It is rare for a woman to lead the pageant as “Grand Marshal” – this has only happened twice in Munich since 1996. How do you explain that?
I can’t say exactly why that is. We want everyone who works with us to have the chance to lead the parade. So far, gender has not played a role. This may also be because the parade is often led by celebrities and not by Munich residents.
Siobhán Freidank (left) will lead the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Munich as Grand Marshal for the first time.
(Photo: IMAGO/STL)
What does it mean to you personally to lead the parade?
It means a lot to me. I have been involved year after year since 1996 and it is a great honor for me to be able to lead the bandwagon. Unfortunately my parents are no longer alive, I’m sure they would be very proud of me.
You have been living in Munich for 40 years now. What do you prefer to drink: Helles or Guinness?
Helles. When it comes to that, I have now become a real Munich native.
The program for Munich’s St. Patrick’s Day starts on Saturday at eleven o’clock with a party on Odeonsplatz, where various musicians will perform. A service will follow at 6 p.m. in the Ludwigskirche. Saturday ends with the “Munich Irish Night” in the inn in the slaughterhouse. The highlight on Sunday is the parade along Leopoldstrasse and Ludwigstrasse. It starts at twelve o’clock at Münchner Freiheit and ends at Odeonsplatz.