of Erie County, Inc. 245. Abbott Road - Buffalo, New York
14220 Sponsors of Buffalo's St. Patrick's
Day Parade 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 January 18,
2008 *************************************************************************************** Eighteenth Annual Cabaret & Valentine's
Dance Saturday, February 9, 2008 - 7:30 p.m.
'til 11:00 p.m. BUFFALO IRISH CENTER - 245 Abbott
Rd. Featuring The LeftOvers $15 Donation includes beer, wine, pop
and a flower for the ladies (bring your own snacks)
For tickets, call Brigid Knott at
875-0282, Garry Johnson at 667-3959 or Jack & Maureen Fecio at
822-6626, ************************************************************** Donations to help defray the expenses
of organizing and operating the 66th 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 2008 PARADE
TO VIEW/PRINT AN
APPLICATION AND FURTHER INFO FOR 2006 PARADE CLICK
HERE
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, Jack Fecio at (716) 822-6626 or Tim Leary (Pipe
Band entries only) at (716) 825-3281. You can also come to
the Buffalo Irish Center (245 Abbott Road in South Buffalo)
at 3:00pm on any Sunday until March 12th.