Irish-American Heritage Day celebrated at track
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » It was St. Patrick’s Day in August at Saratoga Race Course on Wednesday.
From step dancers to soda bread and colorful green outfits, people celebrated the Emerald Isle during the track’s annual Irish-American Heritage Day festivities.
Third-generation Irish-American Harold Qualters, 79, of Albany, said such events are important reminders about the hardships his grandparents endured to secure a place in this country.
“My grandchildren are the fifth generation,” he said. “We need to pass that heritage on to younger generations. It enhances our lives.”
Qualters is a board member of the Irish American Heritage Museum, which presented a trophy to jockey Jose Lezcano, who rode Live Oak Plantation horse, Kabang, to victory in the third race, named for the day’s celebration.
Numerous Irish-themed groups and organizations were represented in the Saratoga Pavilion where people could listen to Irish tunes, purchase souvenirs and sample soda bread.
“It’s all homemade,” Qualters said. “We made 50 pounds.”
One booth was staffed by officials from the Kate Mullany House, a new National Historic Site in Troy. Located at 350th Eighth St., it’s where Mullany, a young Irish immigrant, lived while leading America’s first allwomen’s labor union in the mid19th century.
The site is still under develop-
ment. Plans call for museum displays on the first floor, secondstory offices and a reconstruction of Mullany’s third-floor apartment, to show what living conditions were like. She led a weeklong strike in February 1864, and from then until 1870 she led a movement to improve collar workers’ conditions.
She was inducted to the National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls in 2000.
Of course, the track itself owes its place in history to another famous Irish-American, John Morrissey, a colorful U. S. congressman and prize fighter, who founded the venue in 1863.
A foursome from Connecticut, Mike and Laura Lengo and Dan and Debbie Terenzio, came decked out in green for Wednesday’s activities.
“I’m the only Irish one. They’re all Italian,” Laura Lengo said, smiling.
Young people from The Boland School of Irish Dance, in Green Island, entertained people outside the clubhouse entrance. They also performed by the rail, following the third race.
Children from more than 100 area families are enrolled in the school. Dancers compete throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region from New England to Philadelphia, and are comprised of all ability levels from beginners to contest champions.
The backs of dancers’ shirts bore the motto: “Teamwork Makes the Dream Work.”
“It’s all about working together,” said Kim LaChapelle, whose daughter attends the school. “We travel together and take care of each other.”
“The girls look forward to this event every year,” said Erin Parker, whose daughter also dances.
Tom O’Neill, of Voorheesville, turned out for Irish-American Day wearing a bright green soc-
cer shirt and blue ankle cast, after suffering a re-
cent basketball injury.
“My daughter, Kerry, is 18. She’s been dancing since she was 4,” he said, proudly. “I go to all her events. I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”