Barry Farrell
St. Patrick Parade Committee of Holyoke awards its highest local honor of Grand Marshal to a person of Irish ancestry and either a resident of the City of Holyoke or a member of the St. Patrick Parade Committee of Holyoke and someone who has distinguished him/herself as a loyal person to this Committee, their career, family, and Irish ancestry.
The Parade Committee is pleased to award the honor of 2012 Parade Grand Marshal to Barry Farrell, an outstanding member of the Community, a dedicated representative of Holyoke and the Parade Committee, and a fine family man.
Mike Burke: Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade Marshal honor deserved by Barry Farrell Jr
Published: Wednesday, November 30, 2011, 6:06 AM
Congratulations to Barry Farrell on being named the marshal of the Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade for 2012!
Russ McNiff Jr. and his committee made a fine choice in selecting the affable Farrell to lead the next march of the Irish for Holyoke.
Barry has been with the parade a long time even though he is still a relatively young man. He was parade president in 2000 and received the prestigious Rohan Award from the committee in 2008.
I consider him a friend, and because of his fine demeanor, so does everybody else who knows him.
Barry has truly worked hard for the committee every year, and when I heard he was named marshal I kind of thought, “Gee, he never got it before.”
Barry is one of those steady, reliable people who can be counted on to perform just about any task laid before him. In fact, he has allowed the committee to televise the parade from the front lawn of his funeral home on Northampton Street for many years.
Despite the fact that he is one of the most successful businessmen in Holyoke, he manages to find time to donate his abilities to the community, mostly through his efforts for the parade.
His late father, Barry Sr., was a dear friend of mine. "Big Barry" was always at the door of their funeral home, greeting mourners, passing out candy and handy with a laugh or two.
When he would see me coming up the steps, he would flash that famous grin of his and say, “Boston, O Boston, Home of the bean and the cod, where the Cabots speak only to the Lowells, And the Lowells speak only to God.”
Then, he would laugh and tweak me again about being from the eastern region of the state.
Barry Sr. was, rightfully so, very proud of his son. Barry Sr. was also a big parade supporter and felt the parade was an annual “gift” to the city.
I’m sure Barry Sr. is looking down from on high and will be explaining to all his friends “up there” about what a great guy his son is and how he has received the parade honor.
My sincere wish is a great day for everyone when the parade steps off in March, especially for Barry and his family.
Michael J. Burke, of Holyoke, is retired from The Republican. He can be reached at
ekrubm@verizon.net
