Memories of 2006 Patrick's Day Events
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
VANCOUVER - The echoes of St. Patrick's celebrations are fading away into another year. It was a busy one from Alberta to British Columbia to Seattle.
Pubs and restaurants, enjoyed line-ups from early morning, while various other celebration events were just as busy. CelticFest in Vancouver is a five day event, culminating in the St. Patrick's Day Parade, while Seattle has week-long celebrations and a traditional St. Patrick's Day parade.
March at The Celtic Connection, is always even busier than usual, what with press deadlines and a larger distribution, but I did manage to cover some ground throughout the day, and in the evening along with about 400 other people, I attended the Celtic Heritage Society dinner and dance at the Hellenic Community Centre.
There was some great entertainment including harpist Lori Papajohn, the Gaelic choir, the Moore School of Irish Dancers, the De Danaan School of Irish dancers, The Higgins, The Rogues n’ Tinkers, along with other special guests.
The Celtic Connection took the opportunity at the Celtic Heritage Society dance to present our annual “Celtic Connection Person of the Year Award.” This year, our recipient was Violet Moore of the Moore School of Irish Dance. I had the privilege of presenting Vi with her the award in recognition of 50 years of teaching Irish dance in Canada. She has made an enormous contribution to local Irish culture and she is the first woman to receive The Celtic Connection Person of the Year Award.
The real story of St. Patrick’s celebrations can be seen in the numerous pictures below…
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A VISIT from St. Patrick himself [also known as Tom O'Flynn] with his shamrock and bible was a real treat at the St. Patrick's Day parade. There were many requests for special blessings.
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JOSE DE FREITAS and Maura McCay carried The Celtic Connection colours in the St. Patrick's Day parade.
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THE COLOURFUL SAMBA dancers caught the eye of many in the St. Patrick’s Day parade.
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CATHOLINE BUTLER of The Celtic Connection led a charge of volunteers distributing the newspaper along the St. Patrick's parade route in Vancouver.
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Pictured are The Celtic Connection’s great volunteers who handed out the March issue all along the St. Patrick's Day parade route.
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"Get your Celtic Connection here" called The Celtic Connection volunteers all along the St. Patrick's Day parade route.
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JULIO DE FREITAS was a leprechaun for the day in the Vancouver St. Patrick's parade.
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PICTURED (L-R) at the Penny Lane Pub on St. Patrick’s are Nicola with dad Mike Larkin, Jay Foody and Paul Larkin. In the background is a picture of J.P. Larkin who was tragically killed last November in an automobile accident. The Larkins are regular patrons of the Penny Lane Pub.
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MR. & MRS. MARCUS CLARK in their nifty little shamrock covered Smart Car, were a big hit in the St. Patrick’s Day parade.
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CELTIC HARPIST Lori Papajohn at the Celtic Heritage Society St. Patrick Day event.
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MARY ANN MEEGAN serving up soda bread at the Penny Lane Pub on St. Patrick's morning.
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JULIO DE FREITAS was a leprechaun for the day in the Vancouver St. Patricks parade.
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JACQUIE METZLER, owner of the Wolf & Hound was kept busy serving the many patrons at her establishment on St. Patrick’s Day.
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JIM CARBIN was one of The Celtic Connection volunteers who handed out the March issue all along the St. Patrick's Day parade route. He was assisted by spouse Joanne and his bundle buggy which he called The Gas Saver.
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CONGRATULATIONS to Keith Clark and Kate McNamee on their recent engagement, pictured here at the Celtic Heritage Society St. Patrick’s dinner dance.
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CHRISTINE AND JOE Burke at the Celtic Heritage Society dinner.
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BONNIE AND MARTY McCann at the Celtic Heritage Society dinner dance on St. Patrick’s Day.
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CORK-BORN server Hannah O’Connell was kept busy pouring the pints on St. Patrick’s Day at the Wolf & Hound.
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ENJOYING A PINT at Doolin’s after marching in the parade are Eddie and Helen Beattie of the Port Coquitlam Legion Pipe Band.
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Pictured (L-R) are Al Gerard and Roger Flewwelling enjoying the evening at the Celtic Heritage Society‘s St. Patrick’s Day dance.
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AT THE CELTIC HERITAGE SOCIETY dinner are Ed, Bridie and Maurice Eviston. Standing at the back is Patricia Jorgenson.
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VICE-PRESIDENT George McDonnell (centre) at the Celtic Heritage Society dance surrounded by some charming guests.
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Enjoying the Celtic Heritage Society‘s dinner dance at the Hellenic community centre are (L-R) Lauren Everall, John Cleary and Pat and Ira Cleary.
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PICTURED at the Celtic Heritage Society dinner are Linda Conway (producer of When Hockey Came to Belfast), Tony McCamley (president of the Celtic Heritage Society), Gwen McCamley (treasurer of the Celtic Heritage Society), and Ann Carr.
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CATHOLINE BUTLER presented Vi Moore of the Moore School of Irish Dance with The Celtic Connection Person of the Year award. Vi has been teaching Irish dance and promoting Irish culture in Canada for the past 50 years.
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SOME quiet time in Doolin's Irish Pub after the St. Patrick's Day parade are Erin Coughlan, Rob Helmer and Melissa Coughlan. The Coughlans are co-owners of the new Limerick Junction Pub in Gastown.
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PICTURED after their game at the David Lam Park in Vancouver are members of the Vancouver Harps Gaelic Football Team who took part in a friendly St. Patrick’s Day Gaelic football game with the Australian Cougars Football Club. (Holding their children are Nuala Cyr with son John and Tom O’Sullivan with son Charlie.)
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STEVE MCVITTIE, St. Patrick’s Day Parade Marshal, still smiling after a hectic day of organizing floats, bands and foot traffic.
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PICTURED are the Australian Cougars Football Club after their friendly game at David Lam Park with the Vancouver Harps. The boys also have an eye for a pretty girl as Erin McGinley got into the picture.
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