By Susan Monteleone
YULAN —March 14, 2006 _— It was a day filled with rain drops and a memorable parade as people from all over the county were Irish for a day during the 35th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Yulan.
The parade went off without a hitch despite the rain, and marchers and floats passed by the crowd of more than 2,000 people who lined the main street of Yulan for the one day of the year that it’s also known as Marion O'Neil Way.
Grand Marshals for the parade were Alice Foster and Terry Haas, and Miss Ireland was Celia Oset of Yulan.
According to local lore, 35 years ago Marion O' Neil, who passed away a few years back, started the Yulan Parade with just a small group of people marching down the street.
Today, the parade has come to be known as one of the largest in Sullivan County.
The Yulan Fire Department members proudly showed off their steps and not a beat was missed while the Narrowsburg Fire Department marched to a beat of a different drummer, getting the crowd to clap along.
Floats were not to be missed as candy was tossed to children along the parade route, and even the largest pot of gold could been seen making a showing at the parade.
Master of Ceremonies Robert O'Neil, Marion's son, proudly noted that the parade is about family.
"As I watch her today, I see generations that have grown up with this parade,” he noted. “Katie Hanson, who sang the Irish Lullabye for us, looked right at her mom and grandmother as she sang, and as her family looked on you could see the pride in their faces.
“This parade is about family, and that is why it means so much to all of us. It is a fun day to come out and just be with family.
“Not only is everyone Irish here today, but they are family," he stated.