The 2012 St. Patrick's Parade is well underway with more than 15,000 marchers this year.
HOLYOKE – Sporting a bright green and orange mohawk Thomas Delong, 9, of South Hadley watched the 2012 Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade roll by on Cherry Street.
“I come every year,” he said. “ This time I used some spray stuff that I got at iParty to make my hair green and orange for the parade.”
Holyoke Police Chief James M. Nieswanger said mid-parade there have been no problems.
“The crowds have been well behaved and everybody has been very welcoming as I march in my first parade,” he said. “The parade is huge and the crowds are fantastic.”
Spectators crowded the streets of Holyoke and cheered as hundreds of marchers and floats passed them by during the 61st annual parade.
“I’m living the dream,” said parade president Russell McNiff Jr. He waved and walked the parade route along with many of this year’s award winners.
Kevin O’Hara, the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Award winner for 2012, was thrilled by the crowd and honored to be a part of the parade.
“I feel like I’ve been knighted. It’s a true honor,” said the Pittsfield resident.
The JFK Award is presented annually to an American of Irish decent who has distinguished themselves in their chosen profession. O’Hara has written books including “Lucky Irish Lad,” and Last of the Donkey Pilgrims.” He just retired after more then 30 years as a psychiatric nurse at Berkshire Medical Center.
“An award like this makes me feel validated,” he said. “I’m happy that my story resonated with members of the committee and that they felt I represented the Irish American experience in a way they can relate to.”
While the award winners, Colleens and floats got cheers there were a few small furry creatures who also got big support from the crowd. Perhaps the most popular was Nero, the 10-month-old German Shepherd who walked the route with his owner Sgt. Pete Signorelli.
“He’s the star of the show,” Signroelli said. The duo marched as part of the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department.
Maeve and Madden O’Sullivan ages 7 and 4 and Molly Delaney, 7, all of East Longmeadow cheered as the bands and floats passed by. Wearing bright green and white furry legwarmers the girls had front row seats on Northampton Street.
“I like seeing the cheerleaders,” Maeve O’Sullivan said.
“I like the whole parade,” Molly Delaney added.
Ray Feyre, organizer for the parade, said the event has been a big success this year.
“The floats are a big attraction, but so are the bands and the local groups that march. It’s just a great experience all around,” he said. “We are thrilled to have such a good turnout every year.”
Parade Grand Marshal Barry Farrell Jr. said this year’s crowd is especially large.
“ I’ve marched in the parade for many, many years and I’ve never seen so many people,” he said.