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Date: 8/29/2023
HOLYOKE — Thirty-four-year St. Patrick’s Day Committee member Mary Lynch grew up in Holyoke with 10 siblings and through her family, the importance of their Irish culture and heritage was instilled.
Now after decades of volunteering and helping put on the city’s biggest event — the St. Patrick’s Day Parade — Lynch has been selected as the 71st Grand Marshal following a committee announcement in early August. The Grand Marshal is the highest local honor given to a person who has distinguished themselves as a loyal person to their career, their family and their Irish ancestry.
Great grandparents on both sides of Lynch’s family immigrated from Ireland and planted the seeds for the generations to come after in Holyoke for Lynch and her family. Lynch said she owes her love and appreciation of her Irish heritage to her mother and is blessed to have traveled to Ireland numerous times with her family and her own children and nieces throughout the years.
“I feel that I was very blessed and fortunate to have so many siblings and such a loving and dedicated parents who certainly worked so very hard to maintain a healthy and safe and happy environment for us to grow up in,” Lynch said.
Lynch added one of her earliest memories that helped shape her view on her heritage was walking to the St. Patrick’s Day parade as a young child with her family and taking it all in.
“When I recall viewing it, it just seemed magical,” Lynch said. “To think it was all within a mile from my home — and of course we walked everywhere back then — but to think, whoa, this fun stuff is happening right in our city. To think here we are on our 71st parade and its bigger and better than ever, is a testament to the committee.”
Lynch is a graduate of Holyoke Catholic High School, Holyoke Community College and Westfield State College where she earned her B.S. and M.Ed. degrees in education. She retired in 2017 as the long-time professor of early childhood education at HCC.
Lynch was an active servant of the community, serving on several boards including the Greater Holyoke YMCA and the Irish Cultural Center of Western New England. She was honored in 2010 with the “Oldershaw Award” from the Greater Holyoke YMCA, which is the highest honor given to an individual who has made significant volunteer contributions to the greater Holyoke community.
Not only has she accomplished so much through volunteering, but she has also contributed and accomplished a hefty amount during her 34 years on the St. Patrick’s Day Committee.
Known as “Auntie Mary” to many of her fellow committee members, Lynch has held many important roles including chair of the JFK and memorial mass, grand marshal’s reception, coronation ball and awards dinner. Lynch has also served on the program book and tartan committees, parade coordination and the board of directors.
Many of her committee friends laud her for her leadership “in the lot” as she manages the hundreds of vehicles that enter the parking lot on parade morning. The official announcement of Lynch’s honor from the committee stated, “The Parade literally could not start without “Auntie Mary’s direction,” as she is responsible for announcing the arriving bands, marching units and dignitaries into parade coordination.
Lynch was also honored with the Rohan Award in 1996 and was a member of the Grand Colleen Court in 1970. She added her time on the committee has created “a wonderful sense of satisfaction” for herself and being able to see each generation step up to continue traditions year after year is one of many memories she will keep with her forever from her time on the committee.
“Mary Lynch is most deserving of this esteemed honor. Not only has she served on nearly every subcommittee, but she has held several leadership roles and is instrumental in the overall success of the parade. Her calm and friendly demeanor has welcomed many new members and all look to her guidance each parade weekend,” said parade President Hayley Dunn. “Mary’s love of heritage, family, education and community makes her the perfect choice for grand marshal. I am thrilled to have Mary Feyre Lynch lead the 71st Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade on March 17, 2024.”
Lynch’s selection as grand marshal also marks a new piece of trivia for those interested in the committee and parade’s history, as her selection marks the first time twins have ever both been selected as a grand marshal. Lynch’s brother Ray led the parade in 2015.
Lynch said that right before the announcement the presenter referred to the new recipient of grand marshal as a twin, which prompted a caught-off-guard Lynch to turn to a fellow committee member sitting next to her and ask, “do they mean me?”
“Ray and I are on the same page when it comes to the love of the organization. Being the first set of twins receiving this honor, I have to say the pride is there. Recognition is something that we will always cherish,” Lynch said. “Celebrations started as soon as the meeting ended with our families. And certainly, our parents would be so very proud.”
The parade will coincide with the holiday itself early next year as it is currently set for Sunday, March 17, 2024. Lynch said she finds the coincidence very special and hopes to have another successful parade.
“My expectation is certainly that I will represent not only the committee but our city as well as our regional committees as their grand marshal in a very proud way,” Lynch said.
Lynch will be honored at the Grand Marshal’s Reception on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024 at the Log Cabin. For more details or to purchase tickets to the reception, contact Jane Chevalier at tjcheval@comcast.net or Barb Rogers at twinsmommy@aol.com.
The 71st Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place on Sunday, March 17, 2024 and the 47th St. Patrick’s Road Race will take place on Saturday, March 16, 2024. For more information visit www.holyokestpatricksparade.com.