The 2008 Holyoke St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee has announced the Grand Marshall this year is the honorable Anne M. Gibbons. Gibbons is a retired District Court Justice, and is the first woman to receive the title of Grand Marshall in twenty years. A daughter of Irish immigrants, Gibbons served the Eastern Hampshire District Court as a head justice for many years until her retirement in 1996.

A Holyoke resident, Gibbons, has always been very active in the community.

Gibbons late husband, Leonard E. Gibbons, was one of the early founders of the Holyoke St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee.

Holyoke St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee Announces 2008 Citizenship Award

    The 2008 Holyoke St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee has announced that the Police Department, and the Fire Department will receive this year's Citizenship Award.  The Citizenship Award honors a person or organization that may be of non-Irish descent and that has made substantial contributions to the Parade or the City of Holyoke.  The Commitee praised the city departments and auxilary police, citing, "The collective efforts of these brave men and women are being celebrated with the 2008 Citizenship Award." 

A dinner in their honor will be held February 9 at 5 pm at the Holiday Inn.  For tickets visit the Parade Comittee's events calendar link.

The Holyoke Police, Auxilary Police, and Fire Department play a vital role in ensuring that Parade Day is a success.  With hundreds of thousands of spectators coming out for the big event, that is no easy task.  The men and women of these Departments stand-out in their "supportive efforts" to keep the big day on March 30 running smoothly.

The Parade comittee states:

"Led by Police Chief Anthony R. Scott, Auxiliary Police Chief Ronald Dietrich and Fire Chief David A. LaFond, the men and women of these departments are vital to the success of Parade Weekend and have been since its inception over 50 years ago.  The Holyoke St. Patrick's Committee shares a special relationship with the City's Public Safety Sector when it comes to hosting a safe and enjoyable Parade and Road Race, and this year will be no different.  Hundreds of public safety officers are on the streets from dawn to dusk and beyond during Parade Weekend.  Officers patrol the crowds, staff emergency vehicles, train Parade personnel, monitor the route, march in the Parade, control the flow of traffic, protect participants, partner with state emergency officials, and ensure the safety of parade-goers and marchers alike."  (for the complete article follow the link)

Raffle Tickets Available to Support The Parade

The Parade Committee is holding a raffle for a trip to Ireland.  The "Ireland As You Like It" tour will be awarded to a winning ticket holder, sending six lucky people on a trip of a lifetime.  The prize includes rides to Logan Airport, round trip air-fare, hotel accommodations, meals, site-seeing and other attractions, and $500 spending money per traveler.  In lieu of the trip the wining ticket holder can take $15,000 in cash instead of the trip.  The odds are 1 in 290, so buy your ticket now while they are still available.  Tickets are $100 each and will be drawn on March 26 at J.P.'s Restaurant.

The money raised will help with parade expenses.  Call Daniel Tierney at (413) 533-0909 or any parade committee member to buy your ticket.