NEW YORK, NY - Monday, October 17th 2011: The St Patrick's Day Parade Committee is pleased to announce the selection of the Grand Marshal for the 2012 New York City St Patrick's Day Parade. It will be Francis X. Comerford, Chief Revenue Officer and President of Commercial Operations for NBC Owned Television Stations. Francis X. Comerford will have the honor of leading the 251th consecutive New York City St Patrick's Day Parade up Fifth Avenue on Saturday, March 17th, 2012.

Mr. Frank Comerford was born and raised in Brooklyn and traces his Irish ancestry to County Kilkenny. He is active in community affairs and has received numerous honors from many organizations recognizing his lifelong endeavors.

The New York St Patrick's Parade is the world's oldest and largest civic parade and celebrates "The Faith of Ireland, Irish heritage and Culture".

John Dunleavy, Chairman of the Parade, said, "We are delighted Frank has been selected as the 2012 Grand Marshal. He is an outstanding Irish American who has devoted a huge amount of his energy and charisma contributing to the legacy of the Irish in this great country. He has been instrumental in raising the profile of the Parade across the world through the media of television and the web. Indeed the Parade viewership has increased dramatically in recent years largely due to initiates supported by him and NBC. We are delighted he has accepted the honor to lead us on March 17th and we look forward to a wonderful day celebrating our Irish heritage with Frank at the helm."

The New York City St Patrick's Parade marched for the first time in 1762, fourteen years before the Declaration of Independence was signed in Independence Hall, Philadelphia. The Parade is regarded as the most popular of the all the Parades in New York City, and honors Saint Patrick - the patron Saint of the Archdiocese of New York and Ireland. The New York Parade consists only of marchers and each year hosts some 250,000 marchers and two million spectators. The Parade has many outstanding marching bands, bagpipers in marching formations, high-school and college bands from throughout the United States and from all over the world.

The occasion is televised live to millions of households nationwide for four hours by host station NBC 4 New York. The broadcast is web-cast live via the Internet through the Parade's web site at NYCStPatricksParade.Org and NBC 4's web site at www.nbcnewyork.com.

For additional information regarding the 2012 Grand Marshal and Parade events leading up to the Parade, contact Hilary Beirne at the Parade Office or visit the NYC St Patrick's Day Parade web site at NYCStPatricksParade.Org.

Press Contacts
Hilary Beirne
Parade Executive Secretary
PO Box 295 Woodlawn Station
, Woodlawn, NY 10470
718-231-4400/ 914-833-8363