“Oh, March 17th, the day when the whole world is Irish for 24 hours, ” said Stephen Palmer, a young Irelander who fought against British rule in 1848. This is still true today. Most people love to party and follow Irish tradition. This popular day first commemorated Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, and, by extension, celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. There are many celebrations around the world involving public parades and festivals, the wearing of green attire or shamrocks.
People with Irish ancestry form the largest single ethnic group in Metro Boston area which includes Wayland. Boston is the U.S. city with the largest Irish population. Almost twenty-three percent of the population claims some Irish ancestry. Massachusetts has the second largest Irish population in the country and Scituate, MA has the largest Irish population of any U.S. town with 61.5%.
People of Irish ancestry have influenced the Boston area culture starting with Irish immigration 19th century. Once a Puritan stronghold, Boston changed dramatically with the arrival of immigrants from other parts of the world. The Irish dominated the first wave of newcomers during this period, especially following the Great Irish Famine. Their arrival transformed Boston from an Anglo-Saxon, Protestant city into one that has become progressively more diverse.
The town of Wayland does not collect residents’ ancestry so there was no way to determine what percentage of residents have Irish ancestry, however, as Palmer said, everyone wants to be Irish on St. Patrick’s Day and celebrate. Both the Council on Aging and the Library hosted Irish events.
About fifty guests gathered for a St. Patrick’s Day celebration March 13 at the Council on Aging in the Town Building. The Black Velvet Band, billed as Boston’s best Irish show band, provided lively entertainment, including a sing-along of crowd favorites. The songs include all types of Irish music — ballads, rebel songs, pub tunes and traditional melodies.
In a nod to Irish fare, the lunch included a baked potato bar, with an array of toppings, including pulled chicken, black beans, cheddar cheese, scallions, salsa, and sour cream, along with a tossed salad. A mock Irish coffee bar offered an homage to a St. Patrick’s Day favorite.
The Wayland Public Library also hosted a few events to celebrate Irish culture. The held an Irish dance on March 8th for children five and up. MS Salome led an Irish dance class and performed a few dances. The library presented an Irish concert in the Raytheon on March 18. John Clark, scholar and teacher, presented traditional ballads and folk songs, to pop ditties and movie themes. This festive program features recordings by John McCormack, Bing Crosby and the Clancy Brothers.
