ERIN GO BRAGH
Lively celebration at annual St. Patrick’s Parade
HOOSICK FALLS, N.Y. >> Parade-goers braved the bitter cold Saturday to attend the annual St. Patrick’s Parade in Hoosick Falls.
Though temperatures were in the teens and winds were blowing, the celebration was still lively on Main Street in downtown Hoosick Falls for the parade, the second largest St. Patrick’s parade in the Capital District.
Lifelong Hoosick Falls resident Robert “Bobby” Ryan led this year’s parade as the grand marshal. Ryan’s favorite holiday is St. Patrick’s Day because he gets to celebrate his Irish heritage with his family and friends by singing their favorite Irish song, “The Unicorn.”
In addition to his St. Patrick’s Day spirit, Ryan is known for serving on
the town board and village boards in his community. Additionally, he’s served the community as a bartender in some local establishments.
Ryan is also a youth baseball and soccer coach and a member of The Hoosick Falls Country Club and St. Stanislaw Society.
Following Ryan’s lead in the St. Patrick’s Parade were dozens of floats, vehicles, bands and marchers including the Avant Guard Drum Line, the Hoosick Falls Fire Dept., the Rensselaer County Sheriff Color Guard, the Hoosick Falls Central School 7-12 Kindness Float and the Galloway Gaelic Pipes and Drums.
This longstanding tradition, now in it’s 26th year, was started by local Irishmen Mike Conway and TJ Carmody, who wanted to keep the Irish culture and history alive in the Hoosick area.
Since then, the parade has become a beloved area tradition for residents and visitors alike.
“We’ve here every year,” said Hoosick Falls resident Kaila Matatt.
She likes going to the parade because it’s an opportunity to see family and everyone from around town.
Though she enjoys it more when the weather is warmer, Matatt still made it out on Saturday wearing an Irish flag mustache and a large leprechaun hat.
Downtown Hoosick Falls resident Kathy Borge and her grandkids also wore green for the occasion.
Boyd watches the parade every year, and brings her grandsons Will and Mason Boyd, who like catching candy thrown by marchers.
“The community spirit is wonderful. It’s such a cold day, and people still come out,” Boyd said about the event. “It’s a nice feeling, this community spirit.”
Some first-time parade-goers were in the crowd as well, like Hoosick Falls resident Marcy Stearns and Melissa Smith of Grace Christian School in Bennington, Vt. Stearns, a teacher, and Smith, a parent, were there to cheer for the students when the school’s float went by in the parade. The float, created by the kids, was themed around the holy trinity.
“They decorated it and they’re excited to throw candy,” Smith said.
After the parade was complete, festivities continued at the following Irish Festival, held at various locations around the Town of Hoosick.
Celtic dancing, corned beef dinners and Irish beer were all part of the fun.