An Irish family is celebrating its long heritage as Grand Marshal of the Catonsville parade.

CATONSVILLE, MD - How far did you travel to celebrate our nation's birthday? A woman came all the way from Ireland to be the grand marshal in the Catonsville Fourth of July parade.

The distant family members of 28-year-old Anne Marie Nolan have kept track of their long family tree, which began in Ireland. More than 140 years ago, their ancestors moved to Catonsville, and now seven generations have called the city home.

Nolan was tracked down by family, and she agreed to make her first trip to America.

"It was very emotional because when you think of the struggle they had. They left Ireland, they had nothing, famine times in Ireland. They came over here and they had no family, they had nobody with them and they had to set up on their own. And they've all done very well and what you see today, a big family. It's fantastic," Nolan said.

Many in the Nolan family still live in Catonsville. The city is celebrating it's 200th birthday this year.