Michael Reilly and his daughter Elizabeth Hussey, former and current owners of Reilly’s Bakery, respectively, attach the Irish tricolor to the halyard before sending it up the flagpole to fly over Biddeford on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17. Tammy Wells Photo
BIDDEFORD — The skies were a bit cloudy on the morning of March 17, but hearts were warm and sunny, as folks — most wearing green — gathered in City Square in Biddeford to continue the tradition of raising the Irish flag over Biddeford on St. Patrick’s Day.
This year, Michael Reilly and his daughter Elizabeth Hussey together attached the Irish tricolor to the halyard and slowly raised it above the city, tucked just under the Stars and Stripes.
“It was an honor,” said Hussey.
Members of Biddeford’s Irish community paused for a photo at the annual Irish flag-raising in Biddeford’s City Square on St. Patrick’s Day, 2022. Tammy Wells Photo
The annual March 17 ceremony had long been conducted by businessman Vince Keely and members of his family. Jeff Pellerin, who emceed this year’s event, said he was a bit concerned it would not continue after Keely closed the Wonderbar restaurant a year ago and the building was later sold.
“We were asked to continue,” Pellerin said, and so various members of the Irish community came together as usual, including Michael and Denise Reilly, former owners of Reilly’s Bakery, and their daughter and son-in-law Elizabeth and Kevin Hussey, who now own the 111-year-old Biddeford bakery.
Joining the event were Doug Darby and Ciel Caldwell, owners of the Dunn Bar in the former Wonderbar on Washington Street, who had also pledged to help see that the event would continue. The couple had hoped their new Irish pub and restaurant would be open by St. Patrick’s Day, but are now shooting for an April opening, said Caldwell.
It was a happy moment as those attending gathered for a photo, marking the day.
The Irish flag flew over Biddeford on St. Patrick’s Day morning – a tradition that continues. Tammy Wells Photo
Denise Reilly said she and Michael — whose ball cap sported a shamrock, a symbol associated with Ireland — had been attending the event for many years.
“We’ll be here next year, too,” she said.
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