City of Pawtucket Celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with Flag Raising Ceremony at City Hall

PAWTUCKET – The Pawtucket St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee hosted the annual Irish
flag-raising at Pawtucket City Hall this afternoon.

The flag-raising was preceded by a brief speaking program in the City Hall lobby
where Master of Ceremonies Sean O’brien introduced Mayor Donald Grebien, who spoke
of the contributions made by people of Irish heritage to the City of Pawtucket. In
O’brien’s remarks, he noted that this year marks the 100th anniversary of the 1916
Easter Rising in Ireland where an armed insurrection was mounted in opposition to
British rule. Also included in the speaking program was State Representative Mary
Duffy-Messier, chair of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee.

In his remarks, Mayor Grebien commended O’Brien and Rep. Duffy-Messier for keeping
the City’s traditions and sense of history alive. “I want to thank the Saint
Patrick’s Day Parade Committee and Sean O’brien for continuing to carry on the
important traditions that we have here in the City,” said the Mayor. “If you are
lucky enough to be Irish, then you are lucky enough,” stated the Mayor quoting from
an old Irish saying. “The City of Pawtucket is lucky enough to be steeped in Irish
heritage and to have benefited from the dedication to family and community that
those early generations of Irish settlers brought with them,” continued Grebien.

The ceremony closed with the Irish flag being raised outside of City Hall by
O’brien, joined by Mayor Grebien, Rep. Messier, Rep. David Coughlin and Pawtucket
City Councilors Mary Bray and Mark Wildenhain as the Irish national anthem was
played.