Tradition in Motion

By CAITLYN COFFEY.

The sounds of the bagpipes and drums echoed throughout the venue as everyone listened in awe. The lively traditions of Irish culture have officially begun.

The St. Patrick’s Day festivities have already started in Orange County with the Mid-Hudson St. Patrick’s Day Parade Kickoff fundraiser. This event was held at Tequila Grille in Monroe on February 1st and brought together parade organizers, past and present honorees, live performances, and community members. 

The fundraiser serves as both a celebration and a starting point for the St. Patrick’s Day parade season in Orange County. Music, conversation, and traditional Irish Dance filled the space and set the tone for the weeks of preparation leading up to St. Patrick’s Day. 

One of the major highlights of the evening were the live performances. To start off the event, the Pipes and Drums of the AOH Orange County marched through the building playing powerful sounds that expressed the heritage. 

Another side of the music was The Big Paddy Band, based in Orange County. They performed traditional Irish music such as ‘Tell Me Ma’ and ‘The Wild Rover’ that energized the crowd and added to the festive atmosphere. 

The kickoff also had Irish Dance performances by the Early-McLoughlin School of Irish Dance and the Sheahan Gormley School of Irish Dance, bringing the celebration to life while showcasing tradition through the art of dance. 

The main focus of the entire event was this year’s Grand Marshall, Brian McCabe. McCabe was recognized by the parade committee for his hard work and involvement in the Irish-American community. In his event speech, McCabe advocated and shared his passion for the importance of a united Ireland and how close they are to reaching this milestone. 

Being a Grand Marshall not only signifies honor, but also signifies tradition, passing the sash from honoree to honoree. Last year’s Grand Marshall, Billy Coffey, has been very involved in the parade and the Irish community for 15 years from being Vice President in the parade committee to having the ability to march in the parade as Grand Marshall alongside his children. 

When asked about the importance of the kickoff event, Coffey implied that, “it costs a lot of money to host our parade. Around $35,000. This is also really the first opportunity that the public gets to meet the Grand Marshal and all of the aides. So it’s basically a kickoff for our upcoming Irish Holiday season.” Holding the position of Grand Marshall is a huge accomplishment that not many people recognize and changes your view in many ways. When asked how his experience changed the way he viewed the community, Coffey expressed that, “the people who make up the parade committee have the same outlook in life as [he does]. Our Catholic faith, charitable contributions to the community and loyalty to family are most important to us and being elected as the 2025 Grand Marshal by them meant the world to [him].”

Adding another perspective, a current Aide to the Grand Marshall, a Washingtonville High School Senior, Riley Parker discussed her thoughts. Parker will be representing the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 5 Juniors. Parker expressed how “the Mid-Hudson St. Patrick’s Day parade helps [her] stay connected to [her] culture. It is about celebrating and keeping the memory of our ancestors alive for the next generation to see.” With being a part of this tradition for so long, she shared her insight on the behind the scenes of these events. “What stands out the most to me about working behind the scenes is seeing how much care and attention truly goes into making a huge event like this happen.  Not only that, but contributing to my own point of view while learning from those who came before me.”

With strong support from organizers, performers, honorees, and community members, the Mid-Hudson St. Patrick’s Day Parade is assured for another successful year. As the preparation continues, the excitement sparked at the fundraiser will carry through to parade day when the streets once again will fill with music, movement, and cultural celebration.