submitted by Kevin O’Malley
On Saturday, March 12, The Village of Hoosick Falls will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and the 25th Anniversary of the Hoosick Falls St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Twenty-five years ago, local Irishmen 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!
Please join us for this year’s event, as we host the second largest St. Patrick’s parade in the Capital District.
[private]Participating bands in this year’s parade are The Hoosick Falls High School Band, Olde Saratoga Fyfe and Drums, Taconic Pipe Band, Berkshire Highlanders Pipe Band, The Hoosick Falls School Band, and the Brass Brothers Band. The parade will also feature floats fire trucks and dancers. Parade will begin in Wood Park, proceed down Main St, John St. Church St, Willard St, and back down Main St. to Wood Park. The parade will step off at 1 pm. Line-up at 12:20 pm.
After the parade enjoy the Irish Festival, with a variety of events at various locations around the Town of Hoosick. The Immaculate Conception Church hall will host a family fun event with great Irish music, Shari Hand and Krissy Fauler, Irish Dance with The Hubbard Hall Dancers and great corned beef sandwiches and food from Jean’s Place.
Or gather at Browns Brewery with The Hill Hollow Band. Browns will feature two great Irish brews. Browns Irish Ale and Stout.
The Sand Bar Restaurant will feature the Celtic Games and Bagpipers. The Polish Hall will serve corned beef sandwiches and host the Brewsters and the Original Express Band. The Eagle Club with serve corned beef dinners and feature the Red Handed Band. The Man of Kent with serve some great Irish beers and food
The Albany Trolley is back this year. The trolley will carry event goers to all the Irish Festival locations from 2 to 5 pm. We will also offer a Safe Rides Home program.
For information on the parade and Irish Festival check out our Facebook page or contact Kevin O’Malley at 518-686-9460 or hoosickkid@gmail.com.
Bill Gaillard Named Grand Marshal Of Hoosick Falls St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Bill Gaillard has been named Grand Marshal of the Hoosick Falls St. Patrick’s Parade this year.
Kevin O’Malley, Co-Chairperson of the Hoosick Falls St. Patrick’s Day Parade, said “it’s an honor to have Bill lead our parade as we celebrate its 25th anniversary. Bill is one of the true leaders of our community, who puts his words into action.”
Bill’s mother was Irish and his grandfather came to America through Ellis Island.
Bill came to Hoosick Falls in 1965. He is retired from Hoosick Falls Central School, where he was taught music for over 30 years. He is very active in the Lions organization. He is a longtime volunteer of the Hoosick Rescue Squad since 1967. Bill also spends many hours every year teaching First Aid/CPR and is a nationally registered EMT. He is the conductor of the Hoosick Falls Community Band and a volunteer organist at Proctors Theater in Schenectady on their Wurlitzer Theater pipe organ.
Bill and his wife Carol reside on Wilson Hill in the Town of Hoosick.
We would like to recognize Bill for everything he does for Hoosick Falls. He truly makes our community a better place.
Honorary Grand Marshals
For the second time in the parade’s history, there will be “Honorary Grand Marshals” leading the parade on Saturday, March 12. The St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee has named the student leaders who presented the televised assembly about PFOAs in Hoosick in February, and who have been praised for their articulate and poignant plea to Governor Cuomo to help fix the water problem in Hoosick that helped to get a rapid response, as Honorary Marshals of the Parade. These students are Anna Wysocki, Bernie DeVito, Stephanie Merwin, Jocelyn Harwood, Clare Myers, Julia Helft, Megan Flynn, Will Clifford, McKenzie Bradley, Emma Ganger-Spivak, Heidi Bossoni, and Jeff Brewer.
Hoosick Falls St. Patrick’s Parade Line-Up
Michael Conway Division #1
Main St. And Wood Park
Hoosick Falls Police Dept.
American Legion Color Guard
Taconic Pipe Band
Grand Marshal William Gaillard
Past Grand Marshals Float
O’Neil/Shiland/Conway Family Float
Honorary Grand Marshals. HFSC Water Kids
Hoosick Falls Golf Team
Hoosick Falls Bowling Team
Hoosick Falls Pep Band
Hoosick Falls lacrosse Team
Hoosick Falls Wrestling Team
Albany Trolley
St Mary’s Academy
Excelsior Drum Corp.
Hoosick Falls Fire Dept.
Lumber Jacks Coffee. Marchers
O’Malley/Hand/Kegan Float
VFW POST 1938
Hoosick Falls Centers for living
Hyde Family Float
North Hoosick Fire Dept.
Luke’s Project Wrestling Shoes Marchers
Helen Brady Division #2
Main St. Trustco Bank South
Rensselaer County Sheriff Color Guard
The Scot’s Pipe Band
McGuire Family Float
Browns Brewery
Fifes and Drums of Olde Saratoga
Girls Scouts and Brownies
Webster Family Float.
Stevens and Sons
White Creek Fire Dept.
Doug Harrison
Brass Brothers Band
Hoosick Falls Four Season Softball Fury
Polish Hall Float.
Bennington Cloggers
O’Brien Family Float
West Hoosick Fire Dept.
Kevin’s Place Float
Berkshire Highlanders Pipes and Drums
Hubbard Hall Irish Dancers
Town Of Hoosick Rescue Squad[/private]