By Robyn Quinn
The Irish Traditions are alive and well in Morris County
The month of March is a celebration of St. Patrick. During the month New Jersey is covered in green and there are parades and parties galore. The Irish American Association of Northwest Jersey (IAANWJ) had an additional event in which they paid tribute to St. Patrick.
The March meeting of the IAANWJ was a special occasion for the members of the club, and not just because of the St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
Attending this month’s meeting were representatives from several local charities and students of local Irish dance schools. The club distributed donations to the local charities and presented scholarships to the dance students.
Each year the IAANWJ and the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick’s Morris County Chapter (FSSP) co-sponsor the Morris County St. Patrick’s Parade to honor Saint Patrick and our Irish heritage.
The two organizations host the privately funded parade by raising money from donations of sponsors and fund raising events. Once the expenses of the parade have been paid, the excess money is donated to local charities and Irish cultural organizations.
In the past few years the two organizations have been able to distribute $40,000 each year to the charities and Irish organizations.
On March 16th the IAANWJ distributed $20,000 from the 2016 parade at its monthly general meeting to the local charities and Irish organizations list below.
Theresa Davis, president of the IAANWJ, stated that “these organizations were selected because of their exemplary contribution to our communities.”
The IAANWJ donated to the following charities:
- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
- Lake Drive School for the Deaf
- Birthrite (Hope House)
- Market Street Mission
- Daytop of New Jersey
- People Help
- Dress for Success
- Samaritan Inn
- Family Promise of Sussex
- The Rose House
- Jersey Battered Women’s Shelter
- Valerie Fund
The representatives of the organizations were very grateful to the IAANWJ and the Parade for their generosity.
Phil Parsels of the Market Street Mission was among the representatives to attend. Phil said that the Market Street Mission was celebrating its 128 year of providing “Meals, Shelter and Hope. Everyone that comes through our doors have a great value.”
While thanking the club members, Dawn Metzger of Samaritan Inn said that “the work of the Samaritan Inn is a hand up and not a hand out.”
In addition donations went to these Irish Cultural Organizations:
- Catskills Irish Arts Week
- Daltai Na Gaeilge
- Irish Repertory Theatre
- WFUV
This year the IAANWJ has included a Youth Scholarship to acknowledge and encourage students of local Irish dance schools. Below are the seven students who received a scholarship.
The IAANWJ presented scholarships to:
- Aylia Mahon, An Clár School of Irish Dance
- Emma Cingari, Club Rince the Irish Dance Club
- Tara Malone, DeNogla Ardmore Academy
- Erin Nangle, Heritage Irish Dance Company
- Mairead Herzog, Lenahan School of Irish Dance
- Ellyn Cervona, Slattery School of Irish Dance
- Kayleigh Simpson, Wick-Hegarty School of Irish Dance
It was quite heartwarming to hear that several of the students’ mothers and aunts had attended dance classes at the IAANWJ clubhouse when they were younger. Now the tradition is being passed down to the next generation
With the dedication that these students and their teacher have, I am confident that the Irish traditions will continue to thrive in Morris County.
Robyn Quinn is a member in good standing of the Morris County St. Patrick’s Parade Committee.
MORE COVERAGE OF THE 2017 MORRIS COUNTY ST. PATRICK’S PARADE
