The Hawk Mountain Highlanders march and play the bagpipes at Girardville's Saint Patrick's Day Parade Saturday. PHOTOS BY LINDSEY SHUEY
Originally published in the Pottsville Republican-Herald on March 27, 2022.
GIRARDVILLE — On Saturday, after years of watching the Girardville St. Patrick’s Day Parade from her home, Patricia Reilly-Kowalick watched it pass by for the last time.
“I have good memories,” she said, sitting on the porch with her family. “Oh, you get to see everybody you’ve known for years. We open our house to everyone.”
This is Reilly-Kowalick’s last parade before she moves. She recently sold the house on Main Street, which her son Paul will always remember as “mom’s house.”
Kowalick’s sweatshirt read, “Schuylkill County, every day is St. Patrick’s Day.”
Despite the snow and gloomy weather Saturday, the atmosphere on Main Street was as jolly as could be. The bagpipes boomed and the beer flowed at the famed parade, back for the first time since 2019. Everyone and their dog was out to see it, huddled under porches, tarps and umbrellas.
Every house and bar was packed. Every home and business had Irish flags on poles or in the windows.
“I think it’s good for people to come together,” said 12-year-old Calysta Huss, who wore a giant inflatable leprechaun costume. “It’s a fun holiday for families, too.”
Joe Wayne, president of the Jack Kehoe Division No. 1 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (and the great-grandson of Kehoe, who was called “the King of the Molly Maguires”) brought up the front of the parade. The Ladies Ancient Order Of Hibernians threw candy in the soggy streets.
“I come to the parade every year to celebrate my Irish heritage,” said Kathy Laughlin Benyek of North Manheim Twp., a member of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians. “I love the music. I love the fellowship. In Ireland, it’s usually a very serious celebration, but in Schuylkill County, we’re usually serious about having fun.”
Saturday was Don Petryldak’s first time at the parade, with his friend Chris Curran. Both men are from Shenandoah. Curran was wearing a shamrock suit.
“I love when I hear the bagpipes,” Petryldak said. “I just hate that it rained. You get good days and bad days, what can you do?”
Bridget Kasprzak came from Maryland to visit her mother Rita, who lives on Main Street.
“I’m from Girardville,” Kasprzak said, “and it means a lot in regards to the Molly Maguires and the Hibernian House.”
“Everyone comes to my house to enjoy it,” Rita said, ”and the bands. It’s representin’ the Irish, and everybody should have good luck around here.”
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