Irish organizations banding together
A number of organizations from within Mercer County’s Irish-American community are gathering together next Saturday, March 4th at Hamilton’s St. Anthony’s Church to commemorate a thirty-year legacy of St. Patrick’s Day parades, cultural development and overall civic achievement.
“There’s an intense desire to keep the Irish presence strong here in Mercer County,” says Tom O’Reilly, former administrator of the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, and grand marshal of the 2017 Hamilton Township St. Patrick’s Day Parade. “The Irish-American organizations I’m working with unanimously agree to begin exploring alternative ways of enhancing our cultural contributions and possibly create a few new traditions at the same time.”
Saturday’s festivities will begin with a 10:00 a.m. Mass at St. Anthony’s Church on South Olden Avenue with Father Jarlath Quinn of Pennington’s St. James Parish officiating.
Members of both Division 1 and Division 10 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, their ladies divisions and other Irish organizations such as the Hamilton Parade & Scholarship Committee, the Trenton Irish Heritage Association, the Friendly Sons and Daughters of St. Patrick, the Sons and Daughters of Erin, Irish Northern Aid, the Robbinsville Irish Heritage Association and Irish Northern Aid plan on attending.
The Mass will show support of the first modern-day Trenton St. Patrick’s Day Parade with a presentation honoring the efforts of its late co-founders Desmond Murphy, Billy Briggs, Bill McGuinn, Bill Sweeney and Helene and Jim P’Simer.
Immediately following Mass, the Trenton Fire Department’s Honor Guard will host a flag-raising ceremony on the steps of St. Anthony’s Church. The honor guard will formally present then raise an Irish flag on the exact spot where the first (recent day) St. Patrick’s Day Parade began in 1986.
“A great deal of excitement abounds,” says O’Reilly. “Many were saddened with suffering the recent loss of our Trenton parade yet, we’re all working together to make sure the sounds of the pipes and drums continue to echo throughout Mercer County.”
Following the flag-raising ceremony at St. Anthony’s, an entourage will leave the church and proceed to the corner of Hamilton and S. Olden Avenues where the unveiling of a commemorative “Jim P’Simer Corner” sign will take place. Further down Hamilton Avenue at the corner of Hamilton and Francis, the installation of a “Billy Briggs Way” street sign should take place sometime within the next seven business days.
“The flag-raising ceremony is a small but significant event recognizing the organizations that play a paramount role in weaving Irish tradition into community initiatives,” says O’Reilly. “It’s thrilling to realize so many people wish to acknowledge the historical significance of the Irish here in Mercer County.”
Once the day’s ceremonies conclude, everyone is welcome to visit the Tir na nOg Irish Pub at 1324 Hamilton Avenue where the celebration will continue. Additional information about upcoming events will be available at that time.
Interested in joining the fun? Contact the following individuals via e-mail for more info: Sean Pender: Paddyspeed@ yahoo.com, Dennis Keenan: DenKennan@aol.com, Kevin Meara: KJMeara@optonline. net, Thomas O’Reilly: Thomas. OReilly@pi.rutgers.edu, Thomas Flanagan: tfflan19@aol.com