Mid-summer weather like we had a couple of weeks ago reminds me of parades I have seen out west and in New York City. No snow, no rain, it is more like a Memorial Day parade than a Thanksgiving Day parade. Of course the Rince Na Tiarna Irish dancers marched as well as danced. How do they get that amazing hair? I just love Irish parades … as I love to watch Irish dancing, hear Celtic Rock, reflect on Irish proverbs and enjoy the wonderful spirit of the Irish. To view BRO’s Queenseyes post of the parade please click on A Great Day to be Green.
Finally made it up to the luxury suites and the roof of the New Era Cap company headquarters right in the heart of Buffalo on Delaware Avenue. Thank you for your hospitality Tom Young – may you someday become Grand Marshall. It is just a spectacular view, and the judges are at street level down below. You could see up and down Delaware Avenue, and the streets were packed like I’ve never seen them packed before.
Ironworkers Float was doubledecker
Talked to John Morrison, chairman of the United Irish American Association ( the folks that put the Delaware Avenue parade on every year ) : ” We are so happy to be here this year. It’s our 68th annual parade. Our Grand Marshall Dave Tilley has had just a fantastic day for this. As you can see another record breaker. The crowd is huge up and down the parade route.
Grand Marshall 2009 Dave Tilley
The city of Buffalo has done a fantastic job of helping us get this parade down the spotless streets. They’ve done a wonderful job being a partner with us along with the New Era Cap Company.”
Western New York representative Brian Higgins with Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown
We are thrilled to death as you can see how much this means to Western New York and Buffalo. It’s just fantastic the sea of humanity as you would call it today. The only one I could possibly compare it to would be the 2007 parade. That was such a large parade. The only reason I say that was that I was Grand Marshall that year. So… every Grand Marshall wants to say that theirs was better than the others!”
At the end of the rainbow
You can see the happy faces up and down the parade route, we’re very excited about it. The families, it’s just phenomenal to see them all, all the dancers, all the high schools bands. It is such a big family event in honor of St. Patrick.”
A lot of families came out for the Parade
The parade made me think of one of my all-time Irish proverbs: