Ronan goes green for St. Patrick’s Day
Boone Goddard
Carlene Bockman, Mardene Skogen and Trenton Burland enjoy their ride in the parade.
Boone Goddard
Boone Goddard
Christopher Ford looks like a mischievious leprechaun as he rides in the Branding Iron’s float in Ronan’s St. Patty’s Day parade Sunday.
Boone Goddard
Sarah Templer reaches for candy to toss to the crowd as she parades down Main Street on her pony.
Boone Goddard
Erin Bennet, Cassie Corum and Larinda Fimbres toss candy to parade-goers Sunday from a float for Fimbres’ nail salon, Show Off Your Tips.
Boone Goddard
Daniel Martynowicz
Daniel Martynowicz
Daniel Martynowicz
Hayleigh Smith displays her Griz spirit along with her Irish side.
Daniel Martynowicz
Daniel Martynowicz
Daniel Martynowicz
Daniel Martynowicz
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RONAN — Ronan embraced Irish culture this weekend as an annual St. Patrick’s Day parade marched through the city’s spectator-lined downtown.
In stark contrast to last week, temperatures hovered around 30 degrees Fahrenheit; the wind howled and snow fell. Not letting the dreary weather get them down, children and adults clad in all shades of green raced up and down the street as fire trucks, police, Mission Valley Honor Guard members and one man in a kilt made a slow procession down Ronan’s Main Street.
“I love it,” said parade observer Justin McElderry. “Corned beef, hash, the green beer and candy for the kids — they do a good job putting it on every year.”
One of the parade’s founding participants, Carlene Bockman, said she and two other Irishmen had the first “glimmer of an idea” in 1989 when she was the city clerk.
“We raised an Irish flag and an American flag outside city hall, went to the Valley pub and had a red beer,” she laughed. “Then we skipped a couple of years and decided to have a parade.
“That first year was hysterical. I think there were three Irishmen walking down the street and two cars with us and the street was lined with people. Everyone took it seriously but us.”
Since then, the parade has expanded out of its headquarters (the Pheasant, at the time owned by Irishman Dick Jungers) into a more mainstream setting.
“We used to call ourselves TRIC for ‘The Ronan Irish Community,’” Bockman said. “We used to have quite a deal with the judging. We calmed down that stuff, but it’s been a lot of fun over the years. Some years we have a great turnout and everybody looks forward to it.
“Gosh, we’ve been out there in rain, snow, sleet and sunshine, but it’s always on (March) 17.”
One of Bockman’s favorite memories was Dennis Palmer and the horse he used to paint green and run in the parade. The original green horse has long since passed away, but waited for one more performance — the horse died the day after one of its parade appearances.
For a number of years an alumni band comprised of 16 former Ronan High School musicians from varying generations performed in the parade. They called themselves, “The Pickled Pipers.”
After the Pipers came “Bad Clover;” a quartette that sang in the parade for a number of years.
“It was quite a motley crew,” Bockman said. “In years past we’ve had bagpipers and people dancing Irish jigs ... It’s just a fun thing, and Ronan loves parades, so we’re always assured of a good turnout.”
And if smiling and laughing spectators are any indication, this year’s parade was a huge success.
Second Chance Saloon won the yearly traveling trophy for best overall winner in the parade.
“I love it. Everybody is always talking about going to Butte and other places for St. Patrick’s Day," Bockman said. "It’s not too long ago that some people tried to bring me to Butte, and I said, 'No.' I have my own parade.”
Parade awards
Best Kids Float: Mission Valley 4H Rangers
Most Irish Animals: Templer Time
Best Walker: Mission Valley Honor Guard
Best First-timer: Sarah Templer
Best Griz Float: Griz Scrimmage Kids
Best Business: Show Off Your Tips
Most Likely to Cause a Riot: O’Leary’s Ole’ Ladies
Most Shamrocks: The Shamrock Avengers
Most Likely to Spend the Night in Jail: Mayor Kim Aipperspach
Best Float: Second Chance Saloon
