thePULSEIn Worcester, St. Patrick’s Day is a month-long celebration of all that’s Irish. In keeping with the city’s love of all things Irish in March, we’ve got your guide to St. Patrick’s Day, Parade Day and more. Here, you can find out more about the man who will serve as mayor in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Don’t forget to check out our other articles, including a local college student who is also a top-notch Irish step-dancer and a guide to St. Patrick’s and Parade Day happenings. Plus, we’ve got suggestions about where to get your fill of Irish fare, a guide to Irish beer and the lowdown on whiskey. Remember, on St. Patrick’s Day, everyone’s Irish!
A sit-down with the mayor of St. Patrick’s Day
By Tine Roycroft
Worcester County’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade brings the city to new levels of celebratory joy each year, with its fantastic floats, incredible bands and ever-growing crowds that overflow with cheer and enthusiasm. A tradition now in its 31st year, revelers from Worcester, central Massachusetts and beyond can be relied upon to show their rosy faces and green attire along the parade route each year, come rain or shine.
This year, the role of parade mayor has been awarded to Sean Lyons, a man who has loved Worcester ~ and its parade ~ since he was 8.
“I remember the first parade ~ it was 10 degrees that day,” Lyons said. “My family and my grandmother watched from in front of Kangaroo Crossing, which was a shoe store right near the Palladium. And we went every year after that. It’s been a tradition. We always make it to the parade.”
Lyons, now 40, still remembers highlights from that day. As she watched the parade, Lyons’ grandmother noticed a man wearing an orange hat and demanded to know how he could wear orange at the St. Patrick’s Day celebration. The offender, not wanting to further anger Lyons’ grandmother, removed the hat immediately and risked frost-bitten ears, just to make her happy. Lyons also remembers a Moroccan-themed float with a woman perched on a plastic camel, braving the icy temperatures in a bikini costume.
“I still have no idea how she made it through the whole route without freezing!” Lyons said.
Over the years, Lyons and his family have kept close to Worcester. Now the director of managed care for Amedisys Home Health and Hospice Care, Lyons graduated from Tahanto Regional High School in Boylston before attending Nichols College for both his bachelor’s degree in business and his MBA. For 43 years, the Lyons family owned The Press Box, located on Lincoln Street, and was involved with other local restaurants, including Toby Boland’s, Barristers and Mamie Reilly’s. The family has also supported community efforts such as the Jack Berry Little League and the Friendly House, Inc. Neighborhood Center. Worcester is in Lyons’ blood, which is why it was no surprise to anyone that Lyons won the part of mayor ~ except maybe Lyons himself.
“The process of becoming mayor is essentially a fundraiser,” Lyons explained. “It’s a dollar per vote, so whoever raises the most money becomes mayor. The Press Box has always run candidates, and you’re volunteered to do it. You really have no choice. This year, it was my turn,” laughed Lyons, whose brother, Kevin, is a former parade mayor.
According to Lyons, a number of excellent parade mayors began their candidacy through The Press Box, so there are big (green) shoes to fill. Apart from tirelessly fundraising for the big day, attending various events ~ such as the golf tournament ~ and giving a speech at the Grand Marshall’s Banquet, the mayor holds the most important job of blowing the whistle that starts the parade.
“I hope I can meet everyone’s expectations,” Lyons said. “It’s really an honor. People give their time and their money to make this happen. You really appreciate everything that the volunteers and organizers do. The parade is a great thing for the city. It brings a lot of people into the city and unites them. You don’t have to be Irish. People come from all over just for a good time.”
As he walks the parade route this year, Lyons will be cheered on by his wife, daughter and extended family, along with the happy masses. But for Lyons, there are two very special people who will not be on the sidelines but will be carried in his heart. His father, Kevin, passed away four years ago, and Lyons said he believes his dad will be looking down on him, making certain he does well. Lyons also will be walking in honor of his dear friend, Tom Wallace, who passed away in July.
As a seasoned parade-goer, Lyons knows some of the best spots from which to view the parade, which runs from Webster Square to Elm Park, and he’s ready to give insider advice.
“There’s always a good crowd in front of Mahoney’s,” Lyons said. “State Liquors always seems to have a fun, wild crowd. There’s always a good crowd at Park Grill and the same thing with Peppercorn’s.”
On the morning of the parade, Lyons will be hoping for sunny and warm weather and intends to keep his mayoral outfit simple ~ just green attire. “There’s really nothing I’ll need to do to get into the spirit of the day,” he said. “You just get there and see everyone in great spirits, and you’re ready to go.”
After walking the route, Lyons said he’ll be heading over to Park Grill to meet up with friends. Then, it’s onto The Press Box.
“Even though my family doesn’t own the restaurant anymore, the new owner, Joe Zuromsky, has kept all of the employees, which made our family very happy. And he is still calling it The Press Box. We’ll still call that home on the day of the parade,” he said.
Despite not being a huge corned beef fan, Lyons fully intends to enjoy the juicy sandwich because “you just have to have it on St. Patrick’s Day.” He also intends to order a big bowl of Mulligan’s Stew, as well as a few beers, as he rehashes the day’s events.
Lyons will undoubtedly have a grand old time as he walks the length of the parade route, greeting old friends with a charismatic wave and making new friends with his kind smile and positive attitude. But this Mayor has already decided that the limelight is not for him, joking that even though he’ll be on hand to sign autographs at the parade, it’s his humble opinion that he’d need to pay people to take any autographed items off his hands.
“I think, after the parade, I’ll try to keep a low profile,” he said with a good-natured chuckle. “Absolutely no American Idol auditions.”
This year, the Worcester St. Patrick’s Day Parade begins at noon Sunday, March 10. The grand marshal will be Worcester City Manager Michael V. O’Brien. The parade travels along Park Avenue between Mill and Highland streets. For more information on the parade, or to donate, visit stpatsparade.com.
Photos from last year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade by Justin Perry
