Agawam’s 2024 colleen, Rachel Sills, second from left, is flanked by members of her court, from left, Gianna Smith, Sabrina McBride and Destiny Bullock, after being crowned in February.
Reminder Publishing file photo
AGAWAM — Young ladies who aspire to represent Agawam and their Irish heritage in the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade could be eligible to enter the Agawam St. Patrick’s Committee’s annual colleen pageant competition to select the 2025 colleen and her court.
The committee is encouraging single women of Irish descent between the ages of 17 and 22 who live in Agawam or Feeding Hills to complete and submit an application. The deadline is Dec. 20. An application is available at tinyurl.com/a34hhv. It can be printed, completed and submitted by mail along with a resume and a wallet-sized portrait photo.
Each applicant will become a colleen contestant. All will be invited to an informational meeting at the Agawam Public Library on Jan. 4, 2025, at 11 a.m. to learn more about the colleen selection process. A panel of independent judges — not members of the committee — will select the colleen and her court at the coronation event.
Applicants will be contacted once their application has been received. For more information, applicants can email Abaigeal “Abbie” Fiore, committee president and “colleen mom,” at agawamstpatricks317@gmail.com.
“It’s a fun and exciting experience, as well as a great honor to be selected as colleen or a member of her court,” said Fiore. “The purpose of the colleen pageant is to promote a sense of spirit in the Irish community and Irish awareness to all.”
An applicant’s commitment to her Irish heritage is an important factor in the colleen selection process. The colleen will be required to attend numerous events and functions throughout the year, including the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade and the Agawam Memorial Day Parade.
Agawam’s 23rd colleen coronation will take place at St. Anne’s Country Club in Feeding Hills on the evening of Feb. 8. This is a new site for 2025. The coronation marks the start of “Irish Season,” an approximately six-week period filled with Irish events and celebrations, including the parade in Holyoke, which will be on March 23, 2025.
Fiore said there are several other changes to this year’s competition, in addition to the new location for the coronation.
“Our annual corned beef dinner is planned for March 6 at Partners Restaurant and Catering in Feeding Hills,” she said. “It will feature a wonderful night of Irish dancing, with raffles and a chance for the community to come together during the Irish Season.”
She added that the committee is working on service project ideas.
“We’re looking for new ways the committee as well as the colleen and her court can become involved with the community through working on service projects that give back to our community,” Fiore said. “Additionally, we have some wonderful family events in the works so everyone can celebrate this Irish Season.”
Rachel Sills, the reigning colleen, was crowned at a gala celebration in February. Sills, a student at Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire who is majoring in education, said it’s meant a lot to her to represent Agawam at the Holyoke parade as well as at other events and activities during 2024.
The 20-year-old — who was one of four colleen contestants — said she was surprised when her name was announced as the new colleen.
“I didn’t expect it. I didn’t think I had a shot at becoming colleen. Then the excitement just came over me,” she said.
The Feeding Hills resident said she’s been proud to represent her Irish heritage, especially since she recently researched Ancestry.com for more information about her family’s history: “I’ve become more in touch with my heritage after learning about where my ancestors came from in Ireland.”
The Agawam St. Patick’s Committee was founded more than 20 years ago when its founders “mustered their collective Irish pride” to borrow from the city of Holyoke to produce their own Irish Season, said Fiore.
“We love being Irish in Agawam,” Fiore said. “We now have a history of colleens who honor our town, our history and our people. We truly have an Irish pride and culture to call our own.”
Fiore said the committee is always looking for new members. “We would love to have more people join us to celebrate the Irish Season,” she said. In addition to Fiore, other members of the committee include Douglas Reed, past president; Catherine Benson, vice president; Frank Benson, treasurer; Nikolas Fiore, clerk; Tim McGrew and Todd Arsalanian, directors.
