Mayor Walsh kicked off St. Patrick’s Day in Boston paying homage to his, and much of the city’s, heritage by raising the Irish flag on City Hall Plaza. The son of Irish immigrants, Mayor Walsh made a handful of quick remarks before enjoying some traditional Irish step dancing.

“I’m very honored to be here today to celebrate the connections between the Irish community and the Boston community,” said Mayor Walsh in wishing everyone a happy St. Patrick’s Day. “But also Bostonians of all backgrounds share these same connections in our city and as the year goes on, we’ll be out here on this plaza with many nationalities celebrating their heritage as well and it’s important to do that.”

Mayor Walsh participated in just some of Sunday’s festivities, enjoying the annual South Boston breakfast though declining to march in the yearly parade put on by the Allied War Veterans Council for excluding LGBT organizations from joining and displaying any semblance of a political message. In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio, a native to Cambridge, also declined to march in the Big Apple’s parade on the same grounds.

The New York City parade lost Guinness as a sponsor for the same reason. Boston’s parade similarly lost Sam Adams as a sponsor.

Joking that reporters might’ve speculated that his remarks Monday were to cancel St. Patrick’s Day all together, he went on to state that despite all of the controversy surrounding the parade, it was a good one for Boston.

“There was a lot of positive discussion yesterday. The parade was a great parade, I  wasn’t there obviously but it was a good parade for Boston,” posited the mayor. “Next year it’s going to be a great parade and hopefully I’ll be marching in it.”

Though the result of talks between the LGBT community and Allied War Veterans Council dissolved in the end, he commended the Allied War Veterans for trying to come to a mutually beneficial agreement. Hopefully, comments the mayor, discussions this year will open the door for more dialogue and inclusion next year.

“I think we’re close,” said Mayor Walsh in looking ahead to the 2014 parade. “It came down to a banner and having five letters on the banner, ‘LGBTQ,’ to allow people to identify who they are. And I think we’ll be able to resolve that.”

The mayor then enjoyed some Irish step dancing before wishing Boston a Happy St. Patrick’s Day as well as a happy Evacuation Day, thanking veterans specifically for their part in protecting Boston and the nation at large as it did back in 1776 – the liberating events of which are celebrated on this local holiday.

In closing Mayor Walsh spoke to reporters briefly about the health of his predecessor, Mayor Tom Menino, who has recently undergone chemotherapy to combat cancer that has since spread to his liver and lymph nodes.

“I told him when I spoke to him Saturday night that I was going to call him and get him involved in a few things here with me in City Hall so we can use his expertise,” noted Mayor Walsh, optimistic that Menino will continue to engage in Boston activities to the best of his abilities.

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