By Louise Witt
Rose Foley didn’t let winter storm warnings deter her from attending Saturday’s Morris County St. Patrick’s Parade, even though she lives in Fairfax, Va. The 40-something hit the road at 5 a.m. to make it in time to see the bands.
“I can’t give up on the parade,” said Foley, who used to live in Florham Park. When asked if she had second thoughts about driving in wintry weather, she shot back, “Heck no, it’s more fun when it’s cold. You drink coffee and have blankets.”
If you’re wondering if Foley was talking about a steamy cup of Irish coffee to warm her up, she wasn’t. She settled for a cup of joe from her old favorite, Morristown’s Swiss Chalet.
Even though it was snowing when many in the area woke up, Grand Marshal Ryan Dawson was confident the weather would clear up in time for the festivities. “I knew all along that as soon as we walked out of church, the sky was going to be blue.”
Dawson and many other parade-goers went to a morning mass at Assumption Church to kick off St. Patrick’s festivities that included the parade, parties and pub gatherings. Some 114 organizations, including more than 20 bands, marched from Morristown town hall to Morristown High School. The parade is funded by private donations.
THE PARADE: Slideshow photos by Jeff Sovelove, Bill Lescohier, Katharine Boyle, Marion Filler, Dave Sullivan and Kevin Coughlin. Click/hover on images for captions:
Dawson, a Morristown realtor who resides in Mendham, said he and the other parade organizers made the right call to go forward despite the forecast.
“A friend of mine told me, the flurries were the angels throwing confetti on your parade.”
Overhearing Dawson’s heavenly weather report, Jane Hodge of Parsippany quipped, “He got it half right. You gotta have the Irish sun to make it warmer.”
One of Dawson’s biggest fans marched with the Ukrainian American Cultural Center of New Jersey. Roksolana Leshchuk, chairperson of the Whippany-based nonprofit, praised Dawson for helping organize fundraising events to help Ukrainians suffering in the wake of Russia’s invasion.
“We are so grateful,” Leshchuk said.
EVERYONE CAME
Spectators weren’t daunted by the blustery, chilly weather and grey skies. Thousands lined South Street and roads around the Green to see bands, Irish dance troupes, floats, fire trucks, vintage cars, Seeing Eye pups, and much more.
Brian Devenney, who moved to Stamford, CT, from Donegal, Ireland, said the blustery weather didn’t dampen his enthusiasm for Morristown’s parade. “It’s a very good one,” he said. “With a good variety and a lot of fire trucks.”
St. Patrick events in Ireland aren’t much different, though they do feature more farm tractors and floats. Devenney added that he’d share more comparative analysis after attending a friend’s party in Morris Plains.
“Give me a pint of Guinness, and you’ll need more paper,” he quipped.
“We’re going to have a proper party with some bacon and cabbage,” Devenney continued. “Here you have beef and cabbage, but in Ireland we have bacon and cabbage with Kerrygold butter. You have to have Kerrygold butter.”
Cindy Morris didn’t have quite as far to travel, but still it was a drive from East Rutherford. The 77-year-old didn’t know if she was going to have many customers for her hot soft pretzels this year, when it was raining this morning. She was happy with the parade’s turnout.
Morris has been coming to Morristown’s parade for the last 15 years, except during the pandemic. “We have an exclusive,” she said. “No other people can sell pretzels.”
Yazariah Dawson, no relation to Ryan Dawson, was disappointed she wasn’t able to join her bandmates from the Thomas Jefferson Elementary School for a performance in front of the reviewing stand before the parade. Over the last few years, the children have had few opportunities to play together, because of the pandemic.
Dawson’s mom, Yohance, from Somerset, had a hard time finding parking this morning, so she was a little late. But Dawson, who plays the clarinet, wasn’t down on her luck. She was looking forward to hanging with her family and friends. The chilly weather didn’t bother her.
“I like the cold,” said the 11-year-old.
FACES IN THE CROWD: Slideshow photos by Jeff Sovelove, Bill Lescohier, Katharine Boyle, Louise Witt, Dave Sullivan and Kevin Coughlin. Click/hover on images for captions:
Jennifer Ferrie said she never even considered not showing up at today’s parade. The 45-year-old from Chatham Borough said her husband Todd has played in a bagpipe band in the town’s parades since he was 14. The 47-year-old now participates with the St. Columcille United Gaelic Pipe Band from Kearny.
“We were coming,” Ferrie said. “Through rain, snow, sleet and hail, we’d be here to see Morristown’s parade. We can’t miss it.”
Morris County’s parade dates to 1979 in Wharton and moved to Morristown in 1991. A joint production of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Morris County and the Irish American Association of Northwest New Jersey, it was shut down for two years by the pandemic.
Back in 2010, a gusty storm forced Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty to cancel the parade moments before its noon start. Prior to Saturday’s step-off, the mayor, now in his fourth term, was undaunted by a little raw wetness.
“There would have to be a hurricane or a typhoon or an Act of God for me to cancel another parade,” Dougherty said.
Kathy Wisniewski, born Katherine Ann Mary McClellan, said she’s been coming to the town’s parade for more than 40 years. She and her husband Mike moved to Morris Township from Long Island in 1981, she didn’t realize there was such a vibrant Irish community.
This year, Wisniewski talked her longtime friend, Debbie Forgione, into bringing her grandchildren to the parade. Before leaving her house, Wisniewski posted a photo of her lucky coffee mug with a shamrock.
“I told Ryan Dawson my prayers were answered,” she said. “Thank you for not cancelling.”
Kevin Coughlin contributed to this report.
Video playlist by Jeff Sovelove and Lee Goldberg; click icon top right, toggle through clips:
