Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia
Reminder Publishing file photo
HOLYOKE — It was recently announced Mayor Joshua A. Garcia has been named grand marshal of the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Tralee, Ireland.
Tralee, Ireland is described as a vibrant town with a population of 26,079 and the county seat of County Kerry in southwest Ireland.
Tralee has been of Holyoke’s sister cities since 2017 and the bond between the two was strengthened during a chance meeting at the Big E, where Tralee Mayor Mikey Sheehy and Mayor Garcia connected over their shared experiences in city leadership.
In November, Mayor Sheehy invited Garcia to participate in Tralee’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities and recently learned he would not just be attending but leading the parade as grand marshal.
Gracia talked about the honor and said, “I’m humbled but also pretty psyched. Leading a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Ireland? How cool is that? I am mixed with all sorts of emotions, coupled all together resulting in a great deal of pride.”
Sheehy talked about the bond between Holyoke and Tralee and the decision to choose Garcia and the grand marshal for its upcoming St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
“Having Mayor Garcia as Grand Marshal is an honor for Tralee,” said Sheehy, “The bond between Holyoke and Ireland is deep and historic, and we’re thrilled to welcome him. This visit not only celebrates our shared heritage but also paves the way for cultural, commercial and tourism collaborations that can benefit both communities in meaningful ways.”
Garcia explained said this honor carries significant weight and the significance of this honor is magnified by Holyoke’s rich Irish heritage.
“Known as the “Ireland of America,” Holyoke boasts one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the United States, a tradition rooted in the city’s history as a hub for Irish immigrants who built its canals and worked in its paper mills during the 19th century,” Garcia said.
Today, this legacy is celebrated through vibrant cultural traditions, including the city’s annual parade, which attracts tens of thousands of attendees.
The most well-known Irish American family also has ties to Holyoke. The highest honor for the parade is named after President John F. Kennedy who also participated in the parade in 1958; the President’s brother Teddy was a regular visitor to the Paper City as U.S. senator.
Holyoke is home to the largest per capita Puerto Rican population in the continental but there is also a unique historical connection between Puerto Rico and Ireland.
Pedro Albizu Campos, a leader of the Puerto Rican independence movement, played a pivotal role in drafting the Irish Free State Constitution of 1922 while collaborating with Irish leader Éamon de Valera during his time at Harvard.
Irish immigrants who were turned away from U.S. ports found sanctuary on the island, forming thriving communities. Today, their influence is evident in Puerto Rican cities such as Bayamón, home to Irlanda Heights, and Luquillo, which hosts an annual Desfile de San Patricio.
With Garcia being Holyoke’s first Puerto Rican mayor and being named the Grand Marshal, Tralee’s parade underscores the interconnected histories of Holyoke, Puerto Rico and Ireland.
Garcia talked more about the interconnected histories and said, “This incredible honor to be the Grand Marshal of Tralee’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, to even be thought of, a Puerto Rican kid from Holyoke, for such an opportunity by my brothers and sisters in Ireland, highlights the shared history of Holyoke, Puerto Rico, and Ireland; a testament to the interconnectedness of cultures.”
After Garcia’s visit to Tralee, he will return to Holyoke just in time to march in the city’s legendary St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday, March 23, continuing the celebration of Holyoke’s vibrant Irish American traditions.
Garcia said this is his first time being asked and first time going to Ireland and expressed his excitement for the trip.
He said, “I am very much looking forward to visiting Ireland and getting to experience Irish culture that is near and dear in the hearts of many Holyokers. I’m hoping this visit will allow for cultural exchanges and strengthen our community partnerships.”
