Ronan dressed up in green for St. Patrick's Day
KRISTI NIEMEYER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 4 months AGO
TRADITIONAL GREEN HORSE strolled through Ronan Sunday as part of the St. Patrick Day Parade's equine brigade. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
NEON GREEN drivers piloted a RZR through Ronan Sunday. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
THESE WEE FOLK seemed to take St. Patrick's Day in Ronan entirely too seriously. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
VETERAN PARADE WATCHERS Jerry and Marlena Burden were full of St. Patrick's Day cheer. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
The usual array of emergency vehicles brought up the end of the 2024 Ronan's St. Patrick's Day Parade, with a leprechaun straddling the ladder truck. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
DAPPER DACHSHUND marched along the St. Patrick's Day parade route Sunday on behalf of Dick's Pheasant Lounge. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
Kristi Niemeyer learned her newspaper licks at the Mission Valley News and honed them at the helm of the Ronan Pioneer and, eventually, as co-editor of the Leader until 1993. She later launched and published Lively Times, a statewide arts and entertainment monthly (she still publishes the digital version), and produced and edited State of the Arts for the Montana Arts Council and Heart to Heart for St. Luke Community Healthcare. Reach her at [email protected] or 406-883-4343. | March 21, 2024 12:00 AM
A profusion of green sprouted along Main Street in Ronan Saturday afternoon as spectators and parade participants alike paid homage to St. Patrick – the patron saint of Ireland.
The Honor Guard led the lineup, followed by horseback riders (including the traditional green horse), a large array of green-hued floats, the Great Scott Bagpipes, a few motorcyclists and fancy cars, and a brigade of emergency vehicles, with a leprechaun perched atop the ladder truck.
The Ronan Irish Community (TRIC) sponsors the well-attended annual affair, which was praised by organizer Carlene Bockman for “incredible and enthusiastic participants.”
Bockman offered “a big shout-out” to the many entries, parade judges, security, and spectators. She also expressed appreciation to those who dropped money in donation boxes to help defray costs.
“Even the weather was an awesome contributor,” she said.
This year’s winners are:
Best Irish Animal – Golden Templer
Best Kids – Two Eagle River School
Most Irish – Great Scott Bagpipes
Green Team – Ronan Wrestling
Most Likely to go to Jail – O'Leary's Old Ladies
Biggest Shamrocks – Cheers Bar
Most Likely to Cause a Riot – Pheasant Bar
Pub Wars – 2nd Chance Saloon
Best Overall – Tenas Day Care
Remember, Bockman added, "if you're lucky enough to be Irish (or wanna be) then you're lucky enough!”
NEON GREEN drivers piloted a RZR through Ronan Sunday. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
THESE WEE FOLK seemed to take St. Patrick's Day in Ronan entirely too seriously. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
VETERAN PARADE WATCHERS Jerry and Marlena Burden were full of St. Patrick's Day cheer. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
The usual array of emergency vehicles brought up the end of the 2024 Ronan's St. Patrick's Day Parade, with a leprechaun straddling the ladder truck. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
DAPPER DACHSHUND marched along the St. Patrick's Day parade route Sunday on behalf of Dick's Pheasant Lounge. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)ARTICLES BY KRISTI NIEMEYER
Orchardists enjoy 'one of the best markets ever' for Flathead cherries
Cherry grower Brian Campbell couldn’t be happier with this year’s harvest, and what he describes as “probably one of the best markets we've seen” for the luscious red fruit grown on the shores of Flathead Lake.
St. Ignatius Police signs on to Simply Report anti-trafficking partnership
The St. Ignatius Police Department is the first agency in Lake County, and among the first in Montana, to sign on to a new initiative that aims to combat human trafficking.
Teamwork helps state continue to thwart aquatic invaders
“We gotta keep it protected,” said Quinn Erwin of Helena as he waited in line at the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) check station in Ravalli July 2. He was on his way to Flathead Lake with two jet skis in tow.