Celebrating Irish Hertitage

 Patti Vogelman of Galloway and her sister Meg Steeb of Mullica attended the St. Patrick's Day parade today in Atlantic City

 ATLANTIC CITY — Besides people who adopt an Irish identity for the day, the St. Patrick’s Day parade Saturday also holds a special appeal for South Jersey residents of Irish descent.

 The resort’s parade was held a week before the official celebration of St. Patrick’s Day on March 17.

 Many people were Irish for at least one day on the Boardwalk. The new Biergarten on the Boardwalk at California Avenue and Chickie’s and Pete’s Crabhouse and Sports Bar on the Boardwalk were both playing Irish music.

At the Everything 99 cents store, St. Patrick’s Day hats, bow ties and necklaces were selling for — you guessed it — 99 cents.

Meg Steeb, 52, of Sweetwater, Mullica Township, said her parents were both half Irish.

Steeb’s great-grandmother, Catherine Berkery, came to this country with her husband, Patrick, in the early 1900s through Ellis Island.

“We try to give our children Irish names. We celebrate St. Patrick’s Day,” Steeb said. “I love bagpipes.”

Steeb said she has been able to keep the tradition going of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and attending the parade with her son, Jeff Steeb, 22.

Jeff Steeb is a senior and a lineman on the Villanova University football team, but Steeb said he loves coming to the parade.

Steeb also played a role in introducing the parade to the youngest member and next generation of the family, Camryn Grace, who is her great-niece and was attending the parade for the first time Saturday, as she was born on Thanksgiving.

Entire article at
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/atlanticcitystory/st-patrick-s-day-parade-in-a-c-attracts-people/article_e2f16408-5e76-5614-97a5-5bed3e97bbb5.html