Area residents celebrate St. Patty’s in style

by Terry Duffy
photos by Terry Duffy and Larry Austin
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, March 25, 2006

The shamrocks were out in force and Irish hooligans aplenty, as residents of all ages and from both counties celebrated St. Patrick’s Day in fi ne form last weekend. Included were parades short and long, festive
gatherings large and small, tasty corned beef and cabbage dishes, eye-catching Irish dancers, and
plenty of music, Irish libations and entertainment found at dozens of events scattered literally throughout the Buffalo-Niagara Falls region.

Seen as the area’s unofficial harbinger of spring, Patty’s 2006 saw cold weather blending in nicely with
Irish warmth. Among the parades was a small contingent last Friday morning out on Ridge Road in Lackawanna en route to Our Lady of Victory Basilica; a fun and festive affair that afternoon in downtown Niagara Falls; the traditional neighborhood parade Saturday in Buffalo’s Old First Ward; and the annual two-hour plus, well-attended affair last Sunday on Delaware Avenue in downtown Buffalo.

Locally, the Niagara Falls chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians started and finished its “World’s Shortest Parade” last Friday on Third Street in the Cataract City, kicking off a festive six-hour evening of Irish
celebrating at the nearby Niagara Falls Conference Center. Bob Hosier served as parade marshal for the short procession and was accompanied on the jaunt by standard bearers Liam Donovan and Megan Bimont.

Inside the Falls Conference Center, the mood was festive, food and drink plentiful and Irish entertainment and good times in abundance as thousands of Niagara County and northern Erie County residents joined in this
24th annual celebration, sponsored by the Falls AOH. “This is the place to be,” was a comment shared by many, as friends, neighbors and entire families crowded into the Conference Center. Irish music, entertaining
performances by the McCarthy School of Irish Dance and frequent appearances by Shamrock the Leprechaun were among the many offerings throughout the fun evening.

“What a great turnout,” remarked Falls AOH member Pat Kerins as he looked over the celebration, which enjoyed its second successful year at the Conference Center.

Despite Sunday’s cold and fl urries, tens of thousands lined Delaware Avenue in downtown Buffalo for the holding of the 2006 edition of the Buffalo St. Patrick’s Day Parade – an annual affair in the city which dates back to 1814.

Crowds on the whole were well behaved according to Buffalo Police – which had pledged a crackdown on alcohol that afternoon but nonetheless let the celebrating slide. All told, it proved an enjoyable affair that Sunday with entertaining bands, eye-catching fl oats and Irish dance troops galore -- capping off what was a
fun weekend of celebrating for many.

Yes, despite the March cold, St. Patrick’s Day weekend was again fun and festive throughout the Buffalo-Niagara area. With all that green, perhaps they should consider bottling this one and doing it again during the warmer months. Any takers?