NORTHAMPTON — A chatty crowd gathered at Union Station Thursday morning to celebrate a tradition that has been delayed since 2019 by the COVID-19 pandemic: the St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast put on by the Northampton St. Patrick’s Association.
“We are so glad we can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day again,” said master of ceremonies Brian Joyce, toward the end of an event that featured awards, jokes, singing and the customary good-natured roasting.
It was Erin Cahillane’s first breakfast as the association’s president. “This is truly one of the most inclusive groups of people I have had the pleasure of knowing,” she said.
Cahillane led the crowd in a moment of silence for all those lost in the last few years, and to send positive thoughts or say prayers for those who need support. She said seeing so many faces that they haven’t seen in years is “the best feeling.”
Cahillane also presented her predecessor, Meggan Gilboy, with a sash and words of praise for her leadership.
“It’s really rare for me to find someone who is louder or crazier than I am,” said Cahillane, speaking fondly of Gilboy.
The Rev. Francis Reilly gave the invocation at the breakfast, before leading those assembled in the songs “Let There Be Peace on Earth” and “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling.”
Poet Danny Shanahan, meanwhile, sang the “The Soldier’s Song,” the Irish national anthem, in both English and Irish.
Guest speaker Tony Ryan joked about being mistaken for his brother, the retired judge W. Michael Ryan, who was also in attendance.
“Take a closer look, I’m far better looking. But I readily admit he’s a lot smarter,” he said.
Ryan talked about the contributions of Irish immigrants and those of Irish descent to the area, such as Mary Walsh O’Keefe, an active member of the city’s Irish community who lived to 100, world-traveling journalist Paul Dunphy — and one-time Gazette correspondent — and James Lucey, who was a longtime friend of President Calvin Coolidge, and whom the president credited for his position in the first letter he wrote on presidential stationery.
“Pretty remarkable for a $5 shoeman from Killorglin,” Ryan said.
Ryan also spoke about his last visit to former Rep. Ed McColgan, a stalwart in the Irish community and friend who died earlier this year.
“A great man and we love him dearly,” Ryan said.
After the event Ryan said that being able to speak “was an honor. “I’ve been going to this for probably at least 30 years,” he said.
Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra attended her first breakfast as mayor. It was also the mayor’s birthday, and the crowd serenaded her with a rendition of “Happy Birthday.” In brief remarks, Sciarra read a poem, concluding with the following verse:
“The cops got their cams, the dogs got their land, just don’t ask me where the pot money goes.”
The 2022 Northampton St. Patrick’s Association marshal, who will lead the Northampton contingent in the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade this Sunday, is Tully McColgan, the same person selected in 2020. The same was true for the 2022 James Brennan Award winner Thomas Dunphy, who was also selected in 2020.
Cahillane said that the regional committees decided to move the award winners in 2020 forward, and that people were awarded other awards in the interim. As such, she said that the parade is “likely to be a little bit longer this year.”
Brad McGrath received the first annual Peter V. Kocot Making A Difference Community Service Award, which was awarded in the presence of the former state representative’s wife and sons.
“He was a giant man, but his heart was even bigger,” said McGrath, in recalling his friend. “I’m so honored and pleased to get this.”
The Michael J. Ahearn Jr. award, meanwhile, was given to none other than Joyce.
Of course, no breakfast would be complete without Joyce’s customary roast from which no figure was truly safe.
“If one door closes and another door opens you’re probably in prison. Stay on the right side of the law,” was one of the slogan’s Joyce suggested for Sheriff Patrick Cahillane.
Brian O’Connor’s efforts in donating blood was also commented upon, as well as how questions asked before his first donation nearly dissuaded his efforts.
“Whose blood is it? Where did you get it? Why is it in a bucket?” Joyce said.
Sciarra was given a “bye” by Joyce this year, although he said if she wasn’t he’d have a lot to say about the “million dollar pooch palace.”
On Ryan, Joyce pointed to the guest speaker being a photographer.
“You have a very unique situation,” Joyce said. “You can shoot someone, frame them and hang them and your brother and Dave Sullivan will compliment you on a great job.”
Joyce also said that Brennan Award Winner Dunphy was sent a telegram from Anheuser-Busch saying that they were turning all their Bud Light cans green on St. Patrick’s Day to honor him.
“You have contributed greatly to our success,” read part of the alleged telegram.
Later on in the morning, after the breakfast was well-concluded, a ceremony was held at the memorial for Dominic Daley and James Halligan, two Irish immigrants who were hanged in Northampton in 1806 for a murder they did not commit. In 1984, Gov. Michael Dukakis issued a proclamation that exonerated both men.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.