The Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee has named Cathleen Patricia Steinau as their 2025 Grand Marshal. Steinau will lead this year’s parade down Chapel Street in New Haven on Sunday, March 16.
Cathleen Patricia Steinau was born and raised in West Haven, the daughter of Joanne Connor, sister of Dan Steinau, and granddaughter of Joan and Jim Connor. Cathleen is a third-generation Irish-American who, thanks to the influence of her maternal grandparents, has been an active member of the Irish community for much of her life.
She grew up Irish step dancing with her cousins at the Kathleen Mulkerin School of Irish Dance and toured Ireland as an Emerald Dancer in 1997. She has many fond memories of dancing at countless fairgrounds, St. Patrick’s Day shows and St. Patrick’s Day Parades.
Steinau graduated from West Haven High School in 1998 and is a proud Blue Devil. She went on to earn a bachelor of science degree in Elementary Education and a bachelor of arts degree in Psychology in 2003 from Southern Connecticut State University. She also received her master’s degree in Holistic Thinking from The Graduate Institute in 2010. She plans to begin working on her sixth-year degree in 2025.
Steinau’s involvement in the Irish community began when she was crowned Queen of the Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 2003. Since her role as Parade Queen, she has been an active member of New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee.
Over the years Steinau has chaired and co-chaired many events for the Parade Committee, served as President and Vice President of the West Haven Irish-American Club, and is also a member of the New Haven Gaelic Football & Hurling Club and Irish-American Community Center.
One of the many things she said she loves about the parade is the fact that it is steeped in tradition. After completing the officer roles of Chief of Staff, Secretary, and Parade Chairman; she said she is incredibly honored to be named the 2025 Grand Marshal and will be the 13th female to hold this position since the Parade’s inception in 1842.
Steinau is currently employed as a kindergarten teacher at Calf Pen Meadow School in Milford and has been teaching elementary school for more than 20 years. She is the proud mother of Liam Connor Buckheit, who plays football for the West Haven Seahawks 11U team.
The Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade is Connecticut’s largest, free single day spectator event attracting thousands of people to the streets of New Haven each year. The parade is a long-standing tradition in the New Haven community and the members of the Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day parade committee volunteer to ensure the tradition continues. The Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Associated Irish Societies is a 501(c)(3) organization.