The Douglas family is rooted in Augusta, but also in Ireland, as is evident from the Irish flag proudly displayed on the front porch of their Summerville home.

They'll celebrate their Hibernian heritage today at St. Patrick's Day festivities as the Irish American Heritage Society Family of the Year.

Festivities are open to everyone and include a parade downtown and events on the Augusta Common and the Eighth Street Plaza.

"Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day, we're just Irish all year," said the family matriarch, Margaret Douglas.

She presides over a family of seven children, 18 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

As family of the year, they ride on their own float in the parade -- one that they didn't have to make themselves, Stephen Douglas said.

St. Patrick's Day isn't (just) about green beer, though: It celebrates the saint who brought their faith to Ireland.

So, members of the family will start off the day with Mass. They're members of St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church, but on St. Patrick's Day they go to Mass at Holy Trinity Catholic Church on Telfair Street.

St. Patrick's Day became an official day of celebration in Augusta in 1978 with a proclamation by then Mayor Lewis Newman.

The Irish American Heritage Society was formed earlier that year. Margaret's husband, the late John Douglas, was a founding member and first president of the society, which later had female members, including Margaret.

Faith and pride of their Irish heritage are passed down through the Douglas family.

Their ancestors paved the way for them, enduring persecution in Ireland and in the United States.

"The pride comes from not us, but what they stood for," Margaret said. "They kept the faith."

Faith is still important to the family -- whenever a family member doesn't attend Mass, Margaret has an uncanny ability to know, Beth said.

"If we don't go to Mass, we hear from Gran," she said.

Their heritage is also evident in the wedding bands, crafted in the shape of a claddagh, and by the family naming formula: Each member has a traditional Irish monicker or name of a saint for a first and a middle name, Maggie Douglas said.

Irish music is in regular rotation in Douglas family cars and iPods, and the Douglas family babies are lulled to sleep with an Irish lullaby, Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral .

"When it comes down to it, family is most important," Pat said.