Did you know Saint Patrick was not Irish? Did you know the first Saint Patrick’s parade in North America had participation of people of all different ethnicities, nationalities, and backgrounds?

Historically divisive and unifying, Saint Patrick is celebrated on March 17 of each year as the representative of the Irish people, particularly in the United States.

Saint Patrick’s Day represents a day of celebration of the Irish community, and Irish culture in the country, and for the City of Holyoke, St. Patrick’s Day has a special meaning as this was the 3rd Ireland Parish in 1786, home of many families who established in what today is Holyoke.

With multiple celebrations, a road race, and a parade that brings together not only the Irish communities in the valley, but all residents in the Western Massachusetts area and beyond to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, we wanted to bring awareness of the origin and meaning of Saint Patrick as a representative of the Irish people, particularly in the U.S. as well as the celebrations that are well known across the nation.

For this purpose, we invited professor Laura McNeil, Ph.D., who is the Director of the Honors Program, and Professor of History at Elms College in Chicopee, MA. Also, we are joined by professor Damien Murray, Ph.D., Director of Faculty Development and Professor of History at Elms College. With their knowledge and personal experiences as members of the Irish community, we value the great opportunity of learning from them about the life of Patrick, the migrations of the Irish people to America, and the symbiotic relationship of the customs, traditions, and celebrations of Saint Patrick’s Day between the U.S. and Ireland.