Credit to St. Patrick Himself
for Keeping the Rain Off His Parade
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
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ENTERTAINING at the Holiday Inn for the St. Patrick's breakfast were Sara Fitzpatrick and Damien Brennan of the group Murphy's Lagh.
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BRITISH CONSUL GENERAL Martin Cronin with Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan at the VIP breakfast held at the Holiday Inn prior to the Vancouver parade
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STEVE McVITTIE, the Vancouver parade marshal with Catholine Butler of The Celtic Connection who is the current Irish Woman of the Year with the Irish Women's Network.
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THE British Columbia Regiment Irish Pipes and Drums warming up before leading off the Vancouver St. Patrick's Day parade.
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IRISH SPORTING AND SOCIAL CLUB float with all the usual suspects: (L-R) Marcus Treacy, John O'Flynn, Ronan Deane, Roicin O Connelly, Tara Burns, Cian Lawlor, Gavan Connolly. In the truck are Olivia O'Hara and Tanya St.John.
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ERIN MCGINLEY at the wheel of the Irish Sporting and Social Club float with Tara Burns
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ST. PATRICK (Tom O'Flynn) dispensed blessings upon request to adults and children alike along the parade route.
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ANDREW CARLISLE, a visiting piper from Northern Ireland who plays with the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band. He is standing beside Patrick Reid, the former Honourary Colonel with the BC Regiment.
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THE CELTIC CONNECTION volunteers: (L-R) Gabriel Clark, Sharon Brown, and Frank Dudfield, Miguel De Freitas and Tom Butler. Colleen Carpenter is behind holding up a current issue.
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VANCOUVER - Amazingly, it didn't rain on March 18, the day of the fourth annual CelticFest St. Patrick's Day parade in downtown Vancouver. Tom O'Flynn, who was dressed as the patron saint of Ireland reckons it was St. Patrick himself that was smiling on the parade that kept the rain away.
Steve McVittie who has been the parade marshal for the past four years said, "it never rains on his parade." Whatever it was, it was a great relief to both organizers and marchers that the rain kept away for the big day.
CelticFest started in Vancouver on March 14 and culminated on March 18 with the parade. All the well-known Irish entertainers in the city along with any other band that could manage to play The Black Velvet Band, were much in demand to entertain at the many venues throughout the city during the week.
It always amazes me with all the late nights leading up to the parade, that everyone manages to turn up looking wide-awake and well-turned-out as they take their positions along the parade route...mind you, I noticed a lot of Starbucks and Tim Horton's coffee being consumed before the start whistle.
The Irish Women's Network (IWN) president Deirdre O'Ruairc and myself as the IWN Irish Woman of the Year, were invited by Rita Albano the executive producer of CelticFest to attend an early morning breakfast before the parade at the Holiday Inn on Howe Street in downtown Vancouver.
There were numerous civic and well-known personalities at the breakfast, including Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan and British Consul General Martin Cronin and his wife Kyla, along with retired Canada statesman Patrick Reid, a native of County Donegal.
Belfast-born Damien Brennan, who is the lead singer and multi-instrumentalist with the group Murphy's Lagh, entertained at the breakfast before the parade. He was joined by Sara Fitzpatrick, who is an extraordinary fiddle player and vocalist with the band. One particularly beautiful song that Sara sang in the Irish language was suil arun. They both provided some great traditional entertainment to get us all in the mood for the big day.
Rita Albano is one busy woman in the months leading up to and during CelticFest. Each year by parade time, Rita has lost her voice. She said it's because of all the talking and lack of sleep during CelticFest week, and this year was no exception.
When parade marshal Steve McVittie blew his whistle to signal the start of the parade, the British Columbia Regiment Irish Pipes and Drums went into action and led off the parade. The Irish Women's Network were next in line and this year I saw the parade from a different perspective. As the IWN Irish Woman of the Year, I was riding in Ann Carr's convertible along with Marie Morris and Carol May.
Not only was the parade route longer this year, there were also more floats making it all the more enjoyable for the thousands lining the parade route. The St. Patrick's Day parade is always a lot of fun and a great way to showcase not only the culture and heritage of the Celtic people, but also of the many other ethnic groups who also take part in the parade.
There are so many people who deserve a vote of thanks for ensuring the success of the parade, but one group in particular are worthy of special recognition - and that is all the volunteers.
There are numerous CelticFest volunteers who are everywhere to help in so many capacities. And of course, our own Celtic Connection volunteers who handed out the March edition of the Celtic Connection all along the parade route.
Very special thanks to Linda McKale for all her behind the scenes work in getting all the costumes organized for our leprechaun, St. Patrick, and myself.
And last but not least, a big thank you to parade marshal Steve McVittie who is responsible for the entire parade and did just an excellent job ensuring its success. The parade can only be bigger and better next year.
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