Among the numerous country songs Seamus Moore wrote about his native Ireland is “Take Me Back To Tipperary.”
Megan Ditzler, Schuylkill Haven, the 2015 Schuylkill County Fair Queen, said Saturday that’s where her great-grandfather is from.
“I’m not sure exactly where Tipperary is, but, yes, I’m Irish. And I’m really proud of my Irish roots, so I’m really excited to be here and represent the fair. This is the first time I marched in this parade,” Ditzler, one of more than 200 marchers in the 41st annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday in Pottsville, said.
With her were 2015 county fair Princess Madeline Schuettler, Pottsville, and 2015 county fair Little Miss Julie Beth Wychunass, Orwigsburg.
Last year the St. Patrick’s Day Parade was canceled due to snow. But this year, sunny skies and 45 degree temperatures welcomed the marchers to the parade.
“It’s beautiful out,” Pottsville Mayor James T. Muldowney, who was there in a bright green blazer, said. Since last year’s parade was canceled, Saturday’s event was the first St. Patrick’s Day Parade during his term as mayor.
“Today, it’s absolutely gorgeous. I hope it’s nice next week for the Girardville parade,” Walter J. Choplick, Shenandoah, financial secretary for the Upper Schuylkill Marching Band, said.
“It’s a beautiful day. It’s a great day for the Irish, our heritage, our culture. And it’s a lot better than knocking snow off our shoulders. You couldn’t ask for a nicer day than this,” Thomas Symons, Primrose, president of the Schuylkill County Ancient Order of Hibernians, said.
Symons was marching with the John “Jack” Kehoe Ancient Order of Hibernians Div. 1, Girardville. He was dressed in the kind of vintage clothes worn by 19th century working class folks in Schuylkill County, including a plaid button-up shirt and vest.
“We are the John Kehoe division, so I always try to honor his memory and the memory of the miners,” he said.
He helped Girardville AOH members John Schenewerk, Shamokin, and Jim Mitchell, Mahanoy City, set up the marching banner.
City Councilman Mark Atkinson, the division piper with the Ancient Order of Hibernians, John F. Kennedy Div. 2, was there in a traditional Irish “full-military dress.”
Schuylkill County Coroner Dr. David J. Moylan III led the parade Saturday. Moylan was selected to serve as grand marshal by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, John F. Kennedy Div. 2, which sponsors the event. Moylan was chosen as grand marshal because of his dedication to his profession and his contribution to the Schuylkill County community, according to a press release from the AOH.
“I joined the AOH in 1997 or 1998. I’m overwhelmed by the honor of being asked to do this. This morning we had a wonderful breakfast down there at Trippin’ Billies. I was reminded that it’s been 17 years since I’ve been Irishman of the Year. So these are real nice bookends of my career in the AOH,” Moylan said.
During the parade, he was seated in the back of a 2014 red convertible Chevy Camaro, which was driven by its owner, Frank Yanosky, Pottsville.
“The reason why he got grand marshal is because he’s a hell of a man,” Yanosky said of Moylan.
“We need to get some younger people involved in AOH. March is Irish American Heritage Month. We’re going to plan to have a series of lectures on Irish heritage. Did you know that 2016 is the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising? That was the beginning of freeing Ireland. April 24, 1916, was the event,” Moylan said.
Performers in the parade Saturday included the Pottsville Area Marching Band, the Nativity BVM Marching Band, the Hawk Mountain Highlanders and the Upper Schuylkill Marching Band.
The parade formed on West Market Street between 12th and 14th streets and it headed east to Second Street, then south to Mahantongo Street, east to Centre Street, north to Laurel Boulevard and west to Third Street.
Then, the Humane Fire Company hosted its annual Grand Irish Party, featuring music by Celtheart, an Irish band from New Jersey.
Following the Pottsville parade, Symons and members of the Girardville AOH headed to Conshohocken, Montgomery County, to march in that community’s St. Patrick’s Parade.
“That parade’s at 2 o’clock. I think 15 of us are going. I believe four of five guys already went down ahead of us. We’ve been doing that every year, for at least 10 years. We go to their parade because they come up to our parade every year,” Symons said.
St. Patrick’s Day is Thursday.
The 13th annual Girardville St. Patrick’s Day Parade will begin noon Saturday, according to that parade’s Facebook page.