NORTHAMPTON — When he was a young child, Brian O’Connor remembers returning home from school, finishing his homework, and then heading to the Northampton St. Patrick’s Association with his parents to help plan for that year’s parade.

At first, O’Connor would just listen in on the meetings. But soon he was helping design and carry banners in the annual Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day parade, which morphed into helping to build, and eventually drive, parade floats used by the Northampton contingent.

Now 40 years later, and after 10 years serving as a parade coordinator for the association, things have finally come full circle for O’Connor, who was named this year’s marshal for the Northampton contingent of the parade.

“As much as I’d rather kind of be in the background, out of the limelight, it’s nice to get some recognition for all I’ve done for the parade,” O’Connor told the Gazette in an interview. “It’s an honor to see some of the names of past marshals and to be added to that list.”

In addition to being this year’s marshal, O’Connor, who works as co-director for maintenance and operations at Thornes Marketplace, also received in 2017 the association’s James Brennan award, given to a member who has actively committed to helping the association carry out its goals. That makes O’Connor one of only three individuals to win both awards, the others being David Shea and Thomas Dunphy.

O’Connor holds another remarkable distinction among marshals: His parents, Jim and Mary O’Connor, were marshals for the Northampton contingent 30 years ago in 1995. That makes O’Connor only one of two marshals who also had a marshal for a parent, the other being Michael Ahearn and Michael Ahearn Jr.

“I’m following in their footsteps,” O’Connor said of his parents.

O’Connor’s long participation in the parade has allowed him to meet several high-profile figures who have been special guests, such as Art Rooney, the owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers football team, boxer Mickey Ward and the spy novel writer Tom Clancy. Last year, the parade’s featured guest was Boston Celtics playcaller Mike Gorman, and this year’s parade will include actress and model Bridget Moynihan.

O’Connor was officially given the baton for the Northampton parade marshal during the annual St. Patrick’s Day breakfast on Monday, and helped lead attendees to the follow-up Irish Toast at Fitzwilly’s restuarant, carrying the Irish flag. He continues to show a strong interest in the culture of his ancestors, and has even begun looking into obtaining Irish citizenship through descent.

“My mom’s great-grandfather was originally from Ireland. I’m hoping to get the paperwork to do dual citizenship,” O’Connor said. “First, I got to get [my mom’s] paperwork so she can get it, and then when she claims it, then I can claim it.”

The 72st annual Holyoke St. Patrick’s parade, totaling 2.65-miles will kick off Sunday at 11 a.m. from Kmart Plaza on Route 5 and ends on High Street. Road closures typically begin around about an hour prior. The 48th annual road race will take place a day earlier, on March 22, at 1 p.m.

Alexander MacDougall can be reached at amacdougall@gazettenet.com.