With March 17th just around the corner, the atmosphere in the city of Holyoke is abuzz with excitement for everyone’s favorite holiday; St. Patrick’s Day. A holiday well known for its traditions, St. Paddy’s Day is celebrated by most of Holyoke. With the Road Race and Parade shutting down the streets and attracting the attention of thousands of people, this weekend in particular is not one anyone wants to miss.

For those who don’t know, St. Patrick’s Day is an important event for the people of Holyoke. From Friday night to the early hours of Monday morning, the residents of this city are celebrating the greatest weekend of the year with their family and friends.

This year, the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Road Race falls on Saturday,March 21st. A day when thousands of people gather to run and celebrate. A giant block party occurs downtown around famous Holyoke hotspots like Brennan’s Place and Francie’s Tavern, attracting hundreds of people for a day full of laughs and cheers.

To top the weekend off, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade takes place on Sunday, March 22nd. Last year, the parade attracted a crowd of approximately 400,000 people. Dozens of beautiful floats and important figures smile and wave to the crowds as they pass by. One of the most well known and celebrated floats is the one that showcases the Holyoke Colleens.

This year marks the 61st annual Grand Colleen Pageant, and after the contest that was held on January 3rd, one of Holyoke High’s own made it into the court. Grace Hamel, a senior at HHS, was one of the five selected out of twenty two beautiful and intelligent young women to be in the 2015 Colleen’s Court.

To be a Colleen, besides having Irish heritage, one must be accomplished, friendly, driven to succeed and active in their community. If selected in be in the court, they act as role models to the city. The Colleens participate at school functions and visits to the Soldiers Home, along with attending all the events held by the Parade Committee. They are seen as local celebrities!

Sitting down to talk with Hamel, she tells The Herald that she, “did not think she was going to get in.” She continues, saying that,  “all of the other girls were intelligent, caring, and beautiful young women.” She understands that it must have been a tough decision for the judges to make and is “honored to be given the opportunity to be a part of this celebrated Holyoke tradition.”

It is really no surprise that Grace was chosen to be a Colleen, seeing as she is incredibly active in the community. Besides working as a waitress at the Friendly’s on Northampton Street, she is also the captain of the Cross Country and Track team, a member of Student Government, President of the S.T.E.M Academy and a volunteer at many local organizations.

Grace is a shining example of what Holyoke Public Schools provides its students! She’s attended HPS her whole life and credits her teachers and family for her success. She is a nationally recognized scholar and an outstanding athlete. Grace has been accepted to several prestigious colleges thanks to the excellent education she received from Holyoke Public Schools.

Even with all of this on her plate,  she still manages to be one of the top students in her class. Ashley Berthiaume, a coworker of Grace and fellow HHS student, tells the The Herald that she was, “so happy that Grace was chosen for the court.” She later goes on to say that “there is no one more deserving than she is of such an honor. Grace is one of the kindest people I know; no matter how long or hard a day is she never loses her cheerful attitude.”

Daughter of the late Kevin Hamel, and Mary Carroll, and little sister to her three brothers, Brendan, Patrick and Jack, Grace is Irish through and through. She tells us that being a Colleen, “means so much to all of her family. It’s something that I’ve dreamt of since I was just a little girl waving at the Colleens as they passed by on their float during the parade.” Being the only girl from Holyoke to be selected to the court, Hamel tells The Herald she is, “proud to represent our city.”

Over the past few weeks, Grace and the rest of the Colleens have been attending events all over the city. On the 21st of February, the Coronation Ball took place at the Log Cabin, where each Colleen was asked a question about what their Irish heritage means to them. That night the Grand Colleen, South Hadley’s Ally Craven, was chosen. Hamel says that although she was nervous, she feels “blessed to have even been given the chance to receive such a prestigious honor, and am very happy for Ally.” After the announcement was made, Grace and her friends and family wasted no time hitting the dance floor and monopolizing the photo booth. The group were the last to leave the ball, staying until the band called last call, even in the middle of a giant snow storm!

Though many were disappointed that the only Holyoke girl was not chosen to be this year’s Grand Colleen, the city is proud to call Grace one of their own. Grace is a dedicated, loyal and beautiful young woman, and we cannot wait to cheer for her from the crowd as she passes by on parade day. We couldn’t ask or find a better person to represent our amazing city. She is truly one of Holyoke’s finest.

“Like the warmth of the sun

And the light of the day,

May the luck of the Irish

shine bright on your way.”

-Irish Proverb

Remember to tag your comments and Parade weekend photos #parade413

For more updates and information on Grace and the Colleens visit their Facebook page, Holyoke Grand Colleen Pageant https://www.facebook.com/holyokegrandcolleenpageant