The “Mayor of Southie” initiative has long been a tradition of the parade and provides a fun and unique way to give members of the South Boston community an opportunity to participate in the parade directly and be recognized for it, while working to help raise the funds necessary to hold the parade. Congratulations to 2023 Mayor of Southie Greg Lally.
Greg Lally was born and raised in a house on Dorchester Heights, held by the Lally family for over 100 years, yards away from where General Washington forced the British to evacuate Boston with the help of General Knox’s cannons from Fort Ticonderoga. Greg has witnessed and participated in many of the South Boston traditional events, celebrating Washington’s victory with a parade, dinners, essay contests, free throw competition, etc. Saint Patrick’s Day has always been Greg’s favorite holiday.
Greg has also been surrounded by people who have continued the Southie tradition of giving back to the community. His father has been running the Gate of Heaven CYO and Babe Ruth Baseball for close to 50 years. His uncle has also coached Babe Ruth baseball. Greg has continued the Lally tradition helping with Gatey CYO as a coach for years and now Director of the Traveling programs. Greg had been awarded the Catholic Youth award in his Senior year of high school. He is also a great mentor to the kids in his role as Athletic Director of the BCYF Tynan Community Center for the past 7 years. Greg’s greatest achievements are watching players he coached play at the high school and college levels, bringing younger payers to these games to see former Gatey kids play for their schools. This year, Greg had been awarded the Henry Knox Award last year by the South Boston Citizens Association.
Since Greg has heard about the Mayor of Southie tradition, it has been a dream of his to hold that title: Mayor of Southie. Today, Greg is 29 years old, has a Bachelors Degree in Business from Curry College, has many kids looking up to him as a mentor and has accomplished much in his roles as Athletic Director at the Tynan and his volunteer role as Travel Basketball Director at Gatey CYO. This son of Southie wants to bring that old school Southie Pride that has been installed in him as a child and be part of one more Saint Patrick’s Day celebration tradition and be called the Mayor of Southie.