Maine news, sports, weather from Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland, Maine

No raining on St. Pat's parade

Portland's Irish show their true colors, marching and dancing on a wet, gusty day.

By Melanie Creamer mcreamer@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

PORTLAND — Pouring rain, gusty winds and cold temperatures didn't stop Maine's Irish from marching along Commercial Street to revel in their heritage, proudly white-knuckling the flags of their ancestors.

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Tammy Hutchins of South Portland does some high stepping with a crowd of revelers Sunday during a celebration at Ri Ra Irish Pub and Restaurant in Portland after the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

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Betty Pomroy of Portland and Robert Earles of South Portland watch Irish dancing at Ri Ra Irish Pub and Restaurant in Portland after Sunday’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. About 80 people participated in the parade despite a chilly, wind-blown rain.

Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

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ST. PATRICK'S EVENTS

Get Your Irish Up

7 p.m. Tuesday, Bull Feeney's, 375 Fore St., Portland

An Irish playwright, a poet and a novelist walk into a bar and share their award-winning work. Who doesn't want to drink to that? Featured writers include Ronan Noone, Aidan Rooney and Mary O'Donoghue. $5; benefits the Telling Room. www.tellingroom.org

St. Paddy's Day Plunge

5:30 a.m. Wednesday, East End Beach, Portland

Whether you're in it to support a good cause or as an excuse to drink an early morning beer, this St. Patrick's Day tradition (and this is on St. Patrick's Day) will wake you up with an icy jolt. After your swim, head to Ri Ra for a free buffet and a breakfast Guinness. Pick up pledge sheets at the bar and raise money for the Portland Firefighters Burn Foundation. 761-4446 

Brian Boru Party

6 a.m. to close Wednesday, 57 Center St., Portland

You know you've got Celtic blood in your veins when you start the day with a traditional Irish breakfast, complete with bacon, potatoes and black pudding, for $13.50. Full bar and music throughout the day. No cover. 780-1506 

Sea Dog Brewing Co. Party

8 to 10 a.m. Wednesday, 125 Western Ave., South Portland

Get your party started early with music from the Don Campbell band, plus Irish breakfast food and $2.50 Irish stouts and $5 Irish car bombs. seadogbrewing.blogspot.com 

Ri Ra Irish Pub Party

8 a.m. to close Wednesday, 72 Commercial St., Portland

The party starts early and ends late at Ri Ra, where the festivities kick off with Bailey's Mistake at 8 a.m. and conclude with Now is Now at 10 p.m. No cover. 761-4446 

Boghat

7 p.m. Wednesday, Inn on Peaks Island

This trio of Portland-based musicians offers up Irish dance music that jumps from fiery reels to sexy jigs. The pub serves beverages guaranteed to keep your toes tapping. www.innonpeaks.com

Celtic Cosmology

6 p.m. Wednesday, USM Southworth Planetarium, 96 Falmouth St., Portland

Forget for a moment St. Patrick and his snakes and let Jane Raeburn, author of "The Celtic Wicca," tell you about the Emerald Isle's pagan side. Donations accepted. 780-4249 

Irish Music Under the Dome

7 p.m. Wednesday, USM Southworth Planetarium, Portland

Return to Ireland's pre-Christian roots when ancient people were guided by the stars during this performance from Celtic duo Castlebay. If you like your musical merriment served up with a side order of mystical lore, this show's for you. $12 adults; $10 children. 780-4249 

An Irish Wicked Walking Tour

8 p.m. Wednesday, Bell Buoy Park, Portland (next to Ri Ra)

Scare up ghosts of St. Paddy's Day past with this spooky tour of the Old Port, where you'll learn what Irish spirits linger along the waterfront. $15 adults; $13 children. www.wickedwalkingtours.com 

– Avery Yale Kamila

About 80 people participated in a St. Patrick's Day parade on Sunday, then celebrated at RiRa Irish Pub and Restaurant.

"It's worse than Irish rain," Brendan McVeigh, president of the Irish American Club, said before the start of the parade. "When Irish rain falls on you, it's soft. It makes you feel good. This is nasty. In Ireland, without the rain, they would say it's a soft day."

It was anything but. The rain beat down on walkers, who held 32 flags -- one for each of the traditional counties in Ireland -- and four flags representing each of its four provinces.

The flags were a touch McVeigh added last year. He commissioned the flags, designing them with the colors of each county and the crest emblazoned on the center.

McVeigh said the harnesses some people used to keep the flags steady barely worked in the gusty weather. "I was holding onto my flag for dear life," he said. "It was still great. It's a great tribute to the Irish that people were willing to come out and brave the elements."

Lyn Linskey Clarke, acting president of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees for Casco Bay Chapter 206, carried a county flag along the parade route. Clarke said she marched to show support for her group and her Irish heritage.

"The camaraderie makes it all worth it," she said.

Local members of the New England Regional Council of Carpenters marched too. John Leavitt, business manager for Local 1996, said the group wanted to show support for the Maine Irish Heritage Center in Portland, where they regularly volunteer doing renovation work on the building.

"The Irish always show up," Leavitt said. "The Irish are fighters. It's a testimony to what the Irish are made of."

A Portland police cruiser led the parade from Portland Fish Pier just after noon to Maine State Pier, where the crowd quickly packed up and descended on RiRa to warm up.

McVeigh thanked the crowd during the celebration at RiRa.

Glasses of Irish Coffee and Guinness lined the bar, along with green jerseys from members of Portland's Hurling Club, who played the traditional Irish sport along the parade route.

One of the players, Alan McGrath, of South Portland, said they participated to promote the sport and show support for the Irish Heritage Center.

"I should have worn my wellies," McGrath said, referring to his Wellington boots.

U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree also marched in the parade. She marched to honor Portland's long Irish history and its connection with Ireland, she said.

"I'm a big fan of Ireland and I knew I'd get a free Guinness at the end," Pingree said. "It's so good."

Staff Writer Melanie Creamer can be contacted at 791-6361 or at:

mcreamer@pressherald.com