To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, the Hibernian Benevolent Society of Atlanta is planning a number of events during the month of March, including the 121st St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

The Annual Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Father Thomas O’Reilly Memorial at the old Atlanta City Hall will be held on Friday, March 12, at 1 p.m. with units from the Atlanta Fire Department, the Atlanta Police Department, the Fire Emerald Society of Metro Atlanta and the Metropolitan Atlanta Police Emerald Society participating, along with civic and religious officials. Father O’Reilly, pastor of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Atlanta, during the Civil War, is credited with saving the Shrine, other churches and municipal buildings from the burning of Atlanta through his appeal to Union Gen. Sherman. A memorial in his honor is at the northeast corner of Washington Street and Mitchell Street in front of the old Atlanta City Hall. Msgr. Edward J. Dillon, pastor of Holy Spirit Church, Atlanta, will speak at the wreath-laying ceremony.

That evening the annual St. Patrick’s Day Ball will be held at the Marriott Perimeter Center. The event is a black-tie evening of dinner and dancing, which begins with a cocktail hour at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are available for $75 per person or $750 for a table of 10. For information, contact Tom Begley at (770) 446-8867 or Pat Egan at (770) 396-9486.

The 121st St. Patrick’s Day Parade will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 13, in the Buckhead district of Atlanta. It is expected to include 200 marching groups, including floats, bands, drum and bugle corps, and special guests. The Hibernian Benevolent Society of Atlanta has sponsored the annual parade since the late 1800s.

On the saint’s day, Wednesday, March 17, a special St. Patrick’s Day Mass will be celebrated at the Cathedral of Christ the King, 2699 Peachtree Road, NE, Atlanta, at 10 a.m. A reception of Irish foods will follow.

Additional information on all these events can be found at www.irishatlanta.com.