Chip Kiefer, left, and Tim Foley with the ceremonial St. Paddy's Day Crutch..
The McNally sisters, parade marshals for the 2011 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Old Forge, will “pass the crutch” to this year’s marshals, The Kellys of the Central Adirondacks, at a ceremony to be held in the parking lot of Souvenir Village at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, March 9.
The significance of the crutch passing comes from a legendary tale as told to parade co-chairman Tim Foley by his late grandfather Patrick Foley.
“When my grandfather was a young area lumberjack, the crutch was passed on to other lumberjacks when they got hurt on the job. According to the legend, those who used the crutch healed quickly from their injuries, so it was thought to bring good luck,” Foley said.
The public is invited to attend the ceremony.The St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held on Friday, March 16 at 5 p.m. Parade line-up will begin from Keyes Pancake House at 4:30 p.m. All are invited to join the parade as participants or spectators.
The parade will proceed up Main Street to the Old Forge Fire Hall where revelers can enjoy Irish Stew prepared by area restaurants, and other refreshments.
