Lacey McCabe was crowned this year’s Miss Leprechaun at the Le Sueur County St. Patrick’s Day coronation, held in the Le Center American Legion Club hall on Friday evening.
“I want to thank the (Le Sueur County St. Patrick’s Day) Committee, the Legion and the sponsors for making this all happen and my family for supporting me and all of you guys for bearing with me when my talent went wrong,” McCabe said to the crowd right after receiving the crown.
Reigning over the celebration, Eliana Arquelles was crowned Miss Shamrock. The second runner up, crowned Miss Irish Rose, was Nora Whipps. Taylor Moos took home the John Gregory O’Connell Memorial Scholarship, awarded to the candidate who best demonstrates her Irish heritage.
Above: Last year’s Miss Leprechaun Morgan Fredrickson crowns Lacey McCabe.
Junior Princess Madison Kopet escorts Lacey McCabe to the stage.
Junior princess Shae Miller, third from left, sits on the stage in front of the 2024 royalty shortly before they crowned this year’s royalty.
The 2025 candidates, royalty and junior princesses. They are, from L-R, front row: Madison Kopet, Annabelle Sycks, Leighton Kelly and Shae Miller. Back row: candidate Lexi Hallagan, Miss Shamrock Eliana Arquelles, Miss Leprechaun Lacey McCAbe, Miss Irish Rose Nora Whipps, John Gregory O’Connell Award recipient Taylor Moos and candidate Kristin Siebsen.
The McCabe sisters line up for a group selfie after the coronation. They are, from L-R, Halle McCabe, Halle McCabe (Miss Leprechaun, 2021) Julia McCabe (Miss Shamrock, 2019), Lacey McCabe, Mariah McCabe (Miss Irish Rose, 2024) and Taylor McCabe, a sophomore, who plans on competing in the 2027 Miss Shamrock contest.
Halle McCabe takes a photo of Lacey McCabe with her grandmother, Rita McCabe.
With a below-freezing temperature and a raging head-on wind, Saturday afternoon’s parade skewed more towards Murphy’s Law than the luck of the Irish.
Last year’s royalty bundled up to ride in the parade. They are John Gregory O’Connell Award recipient Olivia Shouler (CHS 2024), Miss Irish Rose Mariah McCabe (CHS 2024), Miss Leprechaun Morgan Fredrickson and Miss Shamrock Lauren Jacobson.
Cleveland kids Clare McCabe far left, Adli Hoisington, Nova Hoisington and Emry Miller kick dance to the St. Peter Govenaires in the Le Center Legion Club hall after the parade.
