St. Patrick’s Day parade returns to Ronan
Float with profane message ignites ire
Rob Zolman
Rob Zolman
Judges awarded several floats with titles after the parade, and The Greenest Award went to the Templer’s Green Horse,
Rob Zolman
The Ronan St. Patrick’s Day parade featured 40 entries in all for a spirited celebration.
Rob Zolman
Rob Zolman
Rob Zolman
Rob Zolman
Rob Zolman
Rob Zolman
Rob Zolman
Rob Zolman
Rob Zolman
Rob Zolman
Rob Zolman
Rob Zolman
Rob Zolman
Rob Zolman
Rob Zolman
Rob Zolman
Rob Zolman
Rob Zolman
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RONAN — The streets of downtown Ronan were lined with Irish spirit late Wednesday afternoon as the St. Patrick’s Day parade made its return after being canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are not Irish but my kids were so excited that there was actually going to be a parade after not having one last year,” said Dara Cathleen. “It was good to get out in the sunshine and see people we haven’t seen in a while.”
Spectators, wearing every shade of green, gathered along the parade route to watch the mid-week fanfare of nearly 40 parade entries move down Main Street. Participating in this year’s parade — which organizers say started in 1985 — were numerous vintage cars, decorated floats, bagpipes, a horse-drawn wagon, multiple fire vehicles and the acclaimed green horse.
“The parade was amazing,” posted parade organizers on social media. “The floats were awesome. The spectators were so fun, and the air was buzzing with positivity and excitement and that’s what this is all about.”
Wednesday’s parade wasn’t all smiles and shamrocks though as some questioned the appropriateness of a float displaying flags with negative messages for the current United States president. One flag used profane language to express displeasure with both the president and his supporters. A post-parade backlash on various social media platforms prompted both the Ronan Area Chamber of Commerce and Ronan Fire Department to release their own clarifying responses.
On Thursday, the Ronan Area Chamber of Commerce posted, on their Facebook account, the following statement, “The Ronan Area Chamber of Commerce was recently made aware of negative political advertising during the St. Patty’s Day parade in Ronan. Although the parade was not a chamber event, we want to be clear that the chamber does not support or condone negative political advertising at any event.”
Also on Thursday, the Ronan Volunteer Fire Department followed with a post on Facebook that stated, “The Ronan Fire Department is aware of the politically charged parade float in yesterday’s St. Patrick’s Day parade in Ronan. In addition to the political flags on the float, numerous other flags were displayed, including a generic fire department flag.”
The statement continued: “The existence of a fire department flag has led some individuals in the community to believe the Ronan Fire Department was either involved with or supported the float. This is not the case. The Ronan Fire Department is a non-political organization and had no involvement with the parade float. The public display of political organizations or candidates upon department vehicles is prohibited.”
After the parade, judges decided on this year’s award winners. The Valley Club was the Best Overall Float. Best Kids Float went to Lake County 4-H with leaders Jen Davis and Diane Matkovich. The Bird took the Pub Wars award, and they were also honored with the Most Shamrocks award.
Ronan Wrestling was awarded the Most Likely to Spend the Night in Jail trophy. Live Oak Belgians (Ninepipes Lodge) was given the Best Irish Animals award. The Greenest Award went to the Templer’s Green Horse, while the Bagpipers were given the Most Irish award.
