submitted by Kevin F. O’Malley
The Hoosick Falls St. Patrick’s Parade and Irish Festival will celebrate its 23rd Anniversary on March 15. Twenty-three years ago local Irishman Mike Conway and TJ Carmody wanted to find a way to keep the Irish culture and history alive in the Hoosick area and decided that a parade was the ticket.
[private]The Grand Marshals
Join us this year as we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and honor our Grand Marshals, the Sisters K., Pat Hayes and Rita Bulson, and our “Irishman for a Day” Phil Leonard.
The Sisters K, Pat and Rita, are lifelong residents of Hoosick Falls and are the daughters of Frank (a former Hoosick Falls Mayor) and Molly Kennedy. Their Kennedy great-grandparents hail from Kilkenny, Ireland, and came to the U.S. in 1857. Both Pat and Rita are communicants of the Immaculate Conception Church where they are both involved as Eucharistic Ministers, and they are proud graduates of St. Mary’s Academy. Rita is also a graduate of Maria College and is currently employed at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center as Lead Medical Transcriptionist and at the Centers for Nursing & Rehabilitation. Pat graduated from the Fanny Allen School of Nursing in Winooski, VT, worked many years at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center,& Weston Hadden (Centers for Living and Rehabilitation) and is currently the School Secretary at St. Mary’s Academy.
Rita is married to Jim Bulson and has two children, Kenny and Matthew. Pat is married to Tony Hayes and they have two children Chris and Tim and Tim’s lovely wife, Kelly, and are blessed with five beautiful grandchildren, Patrick, Taylor, Molly, Riley and Sophie.
The Sisters K devote their time to enjoying the Hoosick Falls Community (a lot!!) and helping with many of the community’s causes including The Karen & Molly McGovern Memorial Fund, the Immaculate Conception Church, St. Mary’s Academy and the St. Stanislaw Society.
The Sisters K could not be more humbled and honored to be part of this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. They have, for years, hosted a St. Patrick’s Day Parade Party on Rita’s Main Street porch so they are looking forward to a wonderful day and seeing everyone from the Parade Side this year.
Mr. Leonard has been nominated many times throughout the years for grand marshal. But he is not of Irish descent. So, for the second time in the parade’s history, Mr. Leonard will be an “Irishmen for a Day” It’s an honor to have Mr. Leonard as “Irishman for a Day” as he’s had a lasting impact on our school and community.
We begin the day with the Parade with over 50 marching units and floats at 1 pm followed by the Irish Fest. After the parade people can take in the entertainment in the Church hall of the Immaculate Conception Church with music, the Hubbard Hall School of Irish Dance and a bagpipe performance from The Galloway Gaelic Pipe Band and the Taconic Pipe Band.
Participating bands in this year’s parade are The Hoosick Falls High School Band, Olde Saratoga Fyfes and Drums, Taconic Pipe Band, Berkshire Highlanders Pipe Band, Galloway Gaelic Pipes and Drums, Excelsior Drum Corps, Capitol Brass Drum Corps and The Scotia Glenville Pipe Band.
The history of St. Patrick’s parades in Hoosick Falls date back to when Irish immigrants made their way to Hoosick Falls in the mid-1800s, ended sometime in the 1950s and was later revived in 1991.
The Parade will begin in Wood Park, go down Main Street to John Street, Church Street, Willard Street and back down Main Street.
The Safe Ride Home Program will be offered once again after the Hoosick Falls St. Patrick’s Parade. Rides will be offered within ten miles of the Village of Hoosick Falls free of charge. Outside of the area, ask the driver for a rate. The service will be offered from 4 pm to midnight. Call Steve’s Taxi for rides that evening at 518-677-2503.
Please take a Safe Ride Home.
For more information on The Hoosick Falls St. Patrick’s Parade and Irish festival, contact Kevin O’Malley at 518-686-9460 or email hoosickkid@gmail.com.
Hoosick Falls St. Patrick’s Parade Line-Up
Michael Conway Division 1 – Wood Park
Hoosick Falls Police
American Legion Color Guard
Taconic Pipe Band
Grand Marshals
Grand Marshal Float
“Irishman for the Day”
Public Officials
Hoosick Falls Fire Dept.
St. Mary’s Academy Float
Excelsior Drum Corps
The Eagles Club
North Hoosick Fire Dept.
Scotty’s Diner Float
Berkshire Highlanders Pipes and Drums
HFCS Groups
Hoosick Falls Bowlers Float
Hoosick Falls Drama Club
Village Twirlers
Helen Brady Division 2 – Main Street
Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Dept.
Hubbard Hall Irish Dancers
Fyfes and Drums of Olde Saratoga
O’Malley Float
White Creek Fire Dept.
Relay for Life Teams
Polish Hall Float
Capital Brass Drum Corps
Hyde Family Float
North Bennington Fire Dept.
Bennington Rugby Club
Capital Brass Drum Corps
Hoosick Fire Dept.
ADAPT Float
“Tuffys” Building Wild Float
Calloway Gaelic Pipes and Drums
Town Of Hoosick Rescue Squad
Hoosick Falls St. Patrick’s Parade After The Parade Food And Events
Immaculate Conception Church Hall – Hubbard Hall Irish Dancers, The Hubbard Hall Tune Jam Band, Awards/Raffles/Grand Marshals/T-shirts, Adapt Food Booth, Frying Dutchman
Hoosick Falls Country Club – Irish Singer Mark Jones/Bagpipers, Great Irish Foods from Chef Jeff Babson
The Sand Bar – The Celtic Games, Bagpipers
The Polish Hall – The Brewster’s – Together Again, Corned Beef Sandwiches
The Eagles – Red Handed Band, Corned Beef Dinners
Scotty’s Diner – Irish Music with Brennen McGuire, Corned Beef and Beer for the Day
The Falls Diner – Corned Beef Dinner
Ice Kreme Kafé – Irish Potatoes, Green Ice Cream Cones[/private]