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With her Irish background, Eileen Poulsen made it a point to be at the St. Patrick's Day parade in Salt Lake City, held a few days early on Saturday.

"I come almost every year because I'm mostly Irish," Poulsen, an Ogden resident, said as she watched the parade go by at The Gateway shopping center.

Poulsen, who was born in England, said her parents were Irish and she has more than 70 first cousins in Ireland. There was no mistaking her heritage: Her outfit included a green shirt with "Feeling Lucky" on it, shamrock earrings, a green bow tie, a necklace with a small replica of a beer mug and a pin saying, "Kiss Me. I'm Irish."

"I love the Irish culture," Poulsen said.

Poulsen was one of thousands of people who watched the parade as it wound its way from West High School down Rio Grande Street through the shopping center. This 40th annual parade was one of the events organized by the Hibernian Society of Utah to celebrate the holiday, which falls this year on Thursday, March 17.

John Welsh, who has announced the parade for 30 years, said there were about 5,500 spectators in 2015 and believes this year's turnout matched that.

The nearly 100 entries included schools, labor unions, media outlets, businesses and all kinds of organizations, including the Shriners.

Richard Johnson, a North Ogden resident who is with the El Kalah Shrine, rode a bicycle dressed as a clown. He said the parade helps give visibility to the Shriners and their charitable work, which includes the group's hospitals for children, including one in Salt Lake City.

"It's been very rewarding for me," Johnson said of his participation with the Shriners.

The Hibernian Society also planned two other Saturday events to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, a Siamsa — a party featuring Irish food and beverages, activities, dancing and a lineup of Irish bands — at The Complex in Salt Lake City after the parade and "The Signatories 1916," billed as a concert in story and song celebrating the Easter Rising rebellion, at the Fort Douglas Post Theatre.

"The Signatories 1916," which is preformed by Irish writer-musician Pat Waters, begins at 7:30 p.m. at the theater, 245 S. Fort Douglas Blvd., on the University of Utah campus. Tickets are $15 at the door or at the Hibernian Society's website.

Twitter: @PamelaMansonSLC