Gearing up for the 25th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade

The back room of felt more like the dining room of a large Irish family on Monday night: the jokes, the familial fighting, the long relationships that go back generations. 

But this family isn’t related by blood (at least, not all of them). This is the St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee in Hoboken.

The committee has been meeting at the bar every Monday night at 7 p.m. since November to prepare for the 25th on March 5.

On Monday, the committee welcomed this year’s honorees: Grand Marshal Bill Noonan; Irishman of the Year Tom Foley; Irish Police Officer of the Year Lt. Kevin Houghton; Irish Firefighter of the year James Wallington and Irish Woman of the Year Kathy Critides, who wasn’t able to attend Monday’s meeting. The committee is also honoring Freeholder and police captain Anthony "Stick" Romano, as its Honorary Irishman of the Year.

“There are a lot of deep friendships here,” Romano said. “My father grew up in an Irish neighborhood in Jersey City.”

Over beers, the committee members discussed what’s left on the to-do list, which is mostly contacting bands, groups and city officials. The dates for the events leading up to parade day are set. The committee will hold a fundraiser on Feb. 20, the annual mass on Feb. 26, and—most importantly—the on the day of the parade.

For the members of this committee the St. Patrick’s Day parade is not the .

“It’s about family,” said Noonan, this year’s Grand Marshal and former Chairman of the parade committee. Noonan said he marched in the parade for the first time 17 years ago (contrary to popular belief, Noonan is not a “b&r,” but moved to town 23 years ago). In those days, he said, there were no afterward.

While marching on Washington Street, Noonan said, “I think about my family that came over generations ago.”

For Helen Cunning, former Grand Marshal and the committee's chairwoman, the St. Patrick’s Day parade is very much a family affair. “My family founded the parade,” she said. Cunning’s father, who passed away in 1989, started the parade in her name.

“I never walk down Washington Street without thinking of him,” Cunning said. “My greatest memory is marching with my dad.”

Cunning said that the committee is planning some surprises for this year's 25th anniversary, but wouldn't give any more details. The committee is currently fundraising to pay for the parade, which will be at least tens of thousands of dollars. 

Wallington, Irish fire fighter of the year and a third generation Irishman in Hoboken, said he likes the parade because it's one of the few times that the entire fire department is together.

"Those are my guys," Wallington, 45, said. "In 23 years I've never missed a parade."

The Hoboken St. Patrick's Day Parade is the year's first—and most prominent—one in the region and attracts a lot of politicians and other public figures. During last year's parade, U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg made his first public appearance after being hospitalized. Other politicians who attended last year were U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, Congressman Albio Sires, Assemblyman Ruben Ramos Jr. and mayors of nearby towns. 

Of course, large crowds of visitors from New York City, Philadelphia and other parts of New Jersey also showed. 

"It's not a drink fest," said Romano, adding that parade day in Hoboken shouldn't be a day "to revel in alcohol." After the parade, Romano and Houghton will take off their sashes and go to work, they said.

But again, no matter how prominent, and no matter how drunk the visitors from out of town get, for the Irish in the Mile Square St. Patty's Day means family.

As is the case for Hobokenite and veteran Tom Kennedy, 77. When Kennedy was Grand Marshal in 1994, he posed for a picture with his two sons and two brothers in the middle of Washington Street. In the photo, the five Kennedy men smile proudly.

Shortly after, Kennedy said, his brother Mike fell ill and passed away.

"It was the last time we had a picture taken together," Kennedy said. "And it was when I was Grand Marshal. That's my fondest memory of the St. Patrick's Day Parade."