The facts that he is Irish and that he is the guy who “got things done” in his previous job as mayor of East Hartford, led the Central Connecticut Celtic Cultural Committee to select Granby’s town manager, Mike Walsh, as the honorary marshal to lead the East Hartford delegation of the 2025 St. Patrick’s Day parade in Hartford. As for Walsh meeting the selection criteria, his dad was from County Waterford. Eight central Connecticut towns participate in the parade.
The East Hartford contingent included 25 police officers, two canines, 30 firefighters, veterans, elected officials, a fife and drum corps and Irish step dancers. Two fire engines were also included, one of which was a 100-year-old fire truck named Maxine.
The list of Walsh’s contributions to his East Hartford community is quite extensive. It includes the development of Silver Lane Plaza, business park at Rentschler Field, Concourse Park, Simon Konover River View Apartments, Port Eastside, McCartin School, the town hall, Project Hope and Church Corners Inn. These projects changed the trajectory of the town in just a couple of years.
Walsh notes: “So ends the East Hartford chapter of my story; my Granby chapter has just begun.”