of Erie County, Inc. 245. Abbott Road - Buffalo, New York
14220 Sponsors of Buffalo's St. Patrick's
Day Parade on Delaware Avenue Parade Date is March 15th, 2009 on
Delaware Avenue JOHN P. MORRISON - President JOHN P. COURTNEY - Vice-President DAVID TILLEY - Treasurer HELEN HANNON LETINA - Secretary BRIGID ANNE KNOTT - Entry Secretary RICK O'SULLIVAN - Historian REV. A. MARK ILLIG - Chaplain MICHAEL KEARNS- Sgt-at-Arms HON. JOHN CURRAN - Judge Advocate EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE GARRY P. JOHNSON - Chairman JOHN P. FECIO- Asst. Chairman PETER F. COMERFORD JOHN P. COURTNEY BERNARD W. CRYAN MAUREEN LEARY FECIO EDWARD M. FLYNN REV. A. MARK ILLIG HON. MICHAEL KEARNS BRIGID ANNE KNOTT CHRIS LAFFLER HELEN HANNON LETINA THOMAS MASTERSON MARK F. McGOWAN JOHN P. MORRISON CATHERINE M. O'BRIEN DENNIS J. O'BRIEN G. DUFFY O'CONNOR MARK O'NEILL MICHAEL D. O'SULLIVAN RICK O'SULLIVAN PATRICK PLUNKETT JAMES J. SPEYER DAVID TILLEY JEFF WILSON THOMAS P. YOUNG ADVISORY COMMITTEE Daniel S. Blake Thomas F. Gilmartin Thomas E. Harkin Joseph J. Jendresky Thomas P. Johnson E. Joseph Kelley Joan F. Lillis Charles F. McMahon Thomas J. Mungovan, Jr. William A. Reilly Michael W. Roberts HONORARY MEMBERS GEORGE V. HAYHURST - Chairman James Boyle Dennis J. Brinkworth, Jr. Hon. Byron Brown James D. Burke Noel T. Burke Patrick J. Carlin John Carney James F. Casey, Jr. Thomas H. Cebulski Hon. Frank J. Clark Hon. Hillary Clinton Anne Coffey Edward C. Cosgrove Joseph Crangle Michael Cryan Robert Davis Dennis P. Dean Lawrence J. Dolloff Richard T. Donovan John P. Fecio, III Joseph Foley Hon. Joel Giambra Dennis B. Gregoire James D. Griffin William P. Group Kevin Helfer Bruce A. Henderson Mary Heneghan Hon. Brian M. Higgins Brian Higgins Hon. Timothy Howard Hon. Sam Hoyt James P. Keane Richard J. Keane, Jr. Hon. Timothy Kennedy Francis J. Lagona Leonard Lenihan Dennis Lennon Hon. Thomas Loughran Patrick Lucey Gregory Luka Marion J. Lyons Edward T. Mahoney Hon. Lynn Marinelli Thomas H. McCarthy Jennifer Fecio McDougall Raymond J. McGirr Frank J. McGuire Michael R. McParlane Robert P. Meegan, Jr. Grace Moriarty Denice Morrison Erin M. O'Brien James O'Brien Sean T. O'Brien Margaret A. O'Sullivan Paul Overend Hon. George Pataki Hon. Jack Quinn III Patrick Reichmuth Meme Reidy Michael J. Roche Patrick E. Roche Neil Rogers Alfred Rohloff Karen Ryan Hon. Robin J. Schiminger Hon. Mark J. F. Schroeder Hon. Chuck Schumer Betty Short Edward Sieracki Hon. David Swarts James Tilley Kevin Townsell Charles Trainor W. Thomas Weeks Hon. Barry A. Weinstein,MD Edward E. Wensek Robert E. Whelan Thomas Whelan Updated May 28, 2008 *************************************************************************************** Eighteenth Annual Paddy-O Party Wednesday, July 9th -- 5:30 to 8:30pm
DiTondo's on Seneca
Street Featuring the Blarney
Bunch Donation $20 includes food, beer, wine
and pop For tickets call Garry Johnson
at 574-0367 or Helen Hannon Letina at
828-0548 or John Morrison at 864-1197
************************************************************** Donations to help defray the expenses
of organizing and operating the 67th annual St. Patrick's
Day Parade would be greatly appreciated. Donations can be
sent to: United Irish-American Assn.
245 Abbott Road Buffalo, N.Y. 14220
Buffalo, New York, like many other
communities throughout the United States, has a large
Irish-American population. The richness of Irish culture
provides this population with numerous ways to celebrate its
heritage throughout the year. Several Irish step dancing
schools provide children and young adults with a love for
this traditional art, traditional music is available in
various venues nearly every weekend, and Irish theater is a
highlight of Buffalo's downtown area. The annual St. Patrick's Day Parade,
however, is Buffalo's largest celebration of the Irish
heritage. The Parade, which begins near Buffalo's art deco
City Hall, draws people of all nationalities. The
enthusiastic crowds line Delaware Avenue as the Irish
dancers, bands, civic organizations, and others march
proudly by in celebration and in honor of St.
Patrick. The Early Years John Carmody served as Grand Marshal
of Buffalo's first St. Patrick's Day Parade, which was held
on March 17, 1916 in Buffalo's Old First Ward, an
Irish-American neighborhood. It was reported that nearly 300
members of the Gaelic Athletic Association participated in
this inaugural event. Unlike the parades of today, the first
parade did not have floats or bands; it was simply a group
of proud Irish-Americans marching in celebration of their
heritage. After the first parade, local churches
began to assist with organizing the parade and bands were
invited to participate. Later newspaper reports indicated
that participation in the parade was not limited to
residents of Irish extraction; rather, it seems that the
only requirement was that participants be Irish for the day
in question. Although Buffalonians seemed to enjoy this
festive occasion, the tradition eventually disappeared from
Buffalo for several years. In 1940, New York State Senator Robert
C. Lacey, perhaps inspired by Buffalo's grand St. Patrick's
Day Parades of the past, decided that Buffalonians should
again have the opportunity to have a Parade to celebrate
Ireland's patron saint. He determined, however, that the
marchers would follow a route along Main Street in downtown
Buffalo. Senator Lacey worked with a dedicated committee,
including: Frank White, James Considine, Charlie Meegan,
Martin Gavin, Judge Patrick Keeler, George White, Edward
Howell, and John McBride. After the committee had elected
Senator Lacey president, the group received its charter in
1941. Thus, the United Irish American Association of Erie
County, Inc. (UIAA), which still exists today, was
officially formed. With the exception of the World War II
years (1942-1945), the UIAA has annually carried on the
tradition begun by Senator Lacey and his committee. Even
during World War II, the parade committee did not rest. They
supported the war effort, and encouraged others to do so, by
donating blood and praying for the safety and success of
America's troops. The UIAA convened in January 1946 and
resolved to end the St. Patrick's Day Parade's wartime
hiatus. The parade committee also decided to issue special
invitations to Buffalo's WWII contingent. In addition to
providing the service men with a chance to celebrate in a
special way with their community, the parade allowed
observers to again shower the troops with
appreciation. The United Irish American
Association The United Irish American Association,
or UIAA as it is often called, is made up of men and women
from throughout the Western New York area. The UIAA members
begin meeting, on a weekly basis, several months prior to
the Parade to make all of the necessary preparations. The
UIAA's members work together to provide the citizens of the
Greater Buffalo area with the best possible St. Patrick's
Day Parade. In addition to working with the groups who are
interested in participating in the Parade, the UIAA works
with various City of Buffalo departments, including Police,
Fire, Special Events, and Streets and Sanitation, to ensure
that the Parade is as safe and enjoyable as
possible. In addition to positions such as
president, vice president, chairperson, and secretary, which
are common in many organizations, the UIAA also relies on
people with titles like Chief of Staff, Assistant Chief of
Staff, Division Marshal, and Route Marshal to make the
Parade a success. The Chief of Staff is responsible for the
prodigious task of receiving Parade entries from
participating groups, then assigning them to a position in
one of the Parade's seven divisions. The Chief of Staff then
makes this information available to the Division Marshals;
on the day of the Parade, the Division Marshals are
responsible for ensuring that each unit in their division is
present, prepared to march, and lined up in the appropriate
slot. When the Parade begins, the Division Marshals signal
each unit in turn that the time has come to begin marching.
The Route Marshals, stationed along the Parade route, work
to ensure that the Parade is moving along as
planned. A Once In A Lifetime
Experience Each year, the Executive Committee of
the UIAA, which meets for several months prior to the
Parade, convenes a special meeting to elect a Grand Marshal
from among its members. It is considered a great honor to be
named as the Grand Marshal; each member of the UIAA may
serve in this capacity only once during his or her lifetime.
The Parade Committee appoints a Deputy Grand Marshal, also
from among its ranks, to accompany the Grand Marshal on this
once in a lifetime journey. The Grand Marshal may appoint an
additional Deputy, such as a family member or friend, to
accompany him or her, as well. Buffalo's St. Patrick's Day Parade has
yielded many interesting, touching, and inspirational
stories with regard to its Grand Marshals. For example,
although it has been the norm to have one Grand Marshal,
there have been exceptions. In one case, the Parade
Committee's attempt to elect a Grand Marshal resulted in a
tie vote. Neither candidate was willing to withdraw from the
race, so the Parade Committee decreed that they would serve
together. On the day of the Parade, one led the line of
march from the starting point to the halfway mark, and the
other from that point to the end of the parade
route. Robert Brennan's experience is also
notable. He served as Grand Marshal, after extensive service
to the UIAA, in 1966, the year of the UIAA's silver jubilee.
Daniel Hannon III's experience was similarly momentous; he
served as Grand Marshal in 1991, the UIAA's golden jubilee.
1978 was also a special year. It was that year that Martha
K. Harkin was named Grand Marshal; she was the first woman
ever to serve in that capacity in Buffalo. Since then, five
other women have served as Grand Marshal. Maureen Leary Fecio is one of the five
other women who have served as Grand Marshal; she served in
1999. She touched the hearts of many Buffalonians with the
selection of her Deputy Grand Marshals. In addition to her
children, Maureen named her parents as her Deputy Grand
Marshals; it was a special and inspiring tribute to her
father, who was suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
(ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease). Confined to a
wheelchair and dependent on a ventilator, Maureen's fiercely
proud father rode directly behind his beaming daughter in a
wheelchair van provided by the City of
Buffalo. In addition to being the first woman
to serve as Grand Marshal, Martha Harkin was also the first
woman to share the distinction of having served as Grand
Marshal with her husband. Martha's husband, Tom, had served
as Grand Marshal in 1964. Raymond O'Brien served as Grand
Marshal in 1958 and his wife, Catherine, served in 1984;
John Roberts, Grand Marshal in 1970, was succeeded by his
wife, Mary, in 1987. John Fecio and his wife, Maureen,
served as Grand Marshals in 1996 and 1999,
respectively. The O'Brien and Roberts families
fostered an appreciation for the Irish heritage in their
children. Raymond and Catherine O'Brien's son, Dennis,
served as Grand Marshal in 1988 and John and Mary Roberts'
son, Michael, served as Grand Marshal in 1995. Brigid Anne
Courtney Knott, who served as Grand Marshal in 1981,
followed in the footsteps of her father, Thomas Courtney,
who had served as Grand Marshal in 1962. These families
taught their children not only to celebrate their Irish
heritage, but also to work to continue a proud Buffalo
tradition, which enables the entire community to join in
that celebration. Thomas Gilmartin served as Grand
Marshal of Buffalo's 59th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade,
which was held on March 19, 2000. A longtime member of the
United Irish American Association, Tom was joined by his
wife, Mary, who served as his Deputy Grand Marshal. Their
children and infant grandson followed immediately behind
them. A Community Event Buffalo's St. Patrick's Day Parade is
traditionally held on the Sunday closest to St. Patrick's
Day, March 17. Each year, thousands of people flock downtown
to enjoy the annual tradition. As two o'clock draws near,
one notices the Irish tricolor flags lining the Parade
route, the children and adults sitting in lawn chairs along
the curb, and the excitement and anticipation in the
air. Promptly at two o'clock, the Parade
begins. As the Grand Marshal, Deputy Grand Marshals,
bagpipers, local dignitaries, and UIAA Executive Committee
members begin to lead the Parade, the crowd roars its
approval -- a Buffalo tradition continues! From the first
marchers to the last, it is evident that the Buffalo St.
Patrick's Day Parade is truly a community event. High school
marching bands, Irish step dancers, Civil War reenactment
groups, fire trucks, Irish-American philanthropic
organizations, and many others march proudly along to
frequent cheers from the people of all ages lining the
Parade route. For the Parade participants, this is
an exciting time. Their hard work, in preparation for this
day, has paid off. Even for groups like the Irish dancers,
high school marching bands, and bagpipe bands who practice
regularly and participate in events throughout the year,
this event is special. Whether it is the size of the crowd,
the historic and cultural significance, or the opportunity
to earn an award, this event is the source of much
excitement and anticipation throughout the
year. For other groups, such as youth
groups, philanthropic organizations, and religious groups,
the St. Patrick's Day Parade might represent their only
annual opportunity to participate in this kind of community
event. These groups often devote a great deal of time and
attention to preparing for this annual event. When a
beautiful float passes by to the cheers of the appreciative
crowd, it is evident that the group represented by that
float spent countless hours preparing it. Other groups
create banners, wear matching clothing, or proclaim their
affiliation in other creative ways. As these groups pass by,
the community spirit of Buffalo's St. Patrick's Day Parade
is evident. Many of the floats contain gleeful children;
participants wave enthusiastically to people in the crowd,
and people lining Delaware Avenue frequently call out to
their family members, friends, co-workers, and local heroes
who are marching, dancing, riding on a float, or playing a
bagpipe. During their journey, the groups pass
a sign that lets them know that they are entering the
Judging Area. In addition to providing a way to celebrate
Irish heritage and culture, the Parade also offers these
groups an opportunity to win prizes. It seems, at this point
in the Parade, as if the dancers kick higher, the bagpipers
and school marching bands play their best, and adults and
children on floats wave more enthusiastically. Judging is
done by an organization independent from the United Irish
American Association. The UIAA invites all Parade
participants to a ceremony, which takes place a few weeks
after the Parade itself, for the awards
presentation. The celebration continues after the
Parade. Thousands of pounds of corned beef and cabbage are
consumed at restaurants throughout the Greater Buffalo area
and many venues feature traditional Irish music and
performances by local traditional Irish step dancing
schools. Buffalonians of all nationalities participate -- it
does not matter whether they are Irish by birth, marriage,
or choice. On the day of Buffalo's St. Patrick's Day Parade,
everyone is included in the celebration. Written component prepared
by: Jennifer Fecio
McDougall If you would like additional
information, you can email us at UIAAparade@aol.com or call
Brigid Knott at (716) 875-0282, You can also come to the
Buffalo Irish Center (245 Abbott Road in South Buffalo) at
3:00pm on any Sunday until March 9th. TO VIEW/PRINT AN APPLICATION AND
FURTHER INFO FOR 2009 PARADE
History of Buffalo's St. Patrick's Day Parade
If you would like additional information, you can
email us at UIAAparade@aol.com or call Brigid Knott at (716)
875-0282, John Morisson at 864-1197 or Garry Johnson at
574-0367. You can also come to the Buffalo Irish Center (245
Abbott Road in South Buffalo) at 3:00pm on any Sunday
January11th thru March 8th.