HOLYOKE, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) -- Sunday marked the 73rd Annual Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade. Nearly half a million people were expected to turn out for the festivities, including some of us here at Western Mass News.

Among those marching in the parade was the Ancient Order of Hibernians, an Irish Catholic organization that’s over 100 years old in the City of Holyoke. Western Mass News spoke with

Joseph O’Connor, the president of the group, learning the significance this parade has for the community. “It means a welcoming, everyone together, it’s a family affair, it’s a lot of people a lot of energy a lot of good energy people getting together celebrating their Irish heritage, or other heritage that they may be that brings them together, brings everybody together,” he explained.

While the weather wasn’t ideal for the parade, that didn’t stop people from taking to the streets. We spoke with parade-goers Sue Anne and Daniel LaFond, who said the rain and cold weren’t getting them down, “It’s been good...It’s cold and wet. But, uh, it’s been fun... We used to march the parade pretty regularly, so this is nothing.”

This year, the parade also featured a lower stimulus ‘Sensory Street’ for people with sensory sensitivities. ‘Sensory Street’ ran from Elm Street through Maple Street, away from flashing lights, sirens, drums, or brass instruments.

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