Limericks, laughs and a few roasts at Northampton St. Patrick’s breakfast

NORTHAMPTON — From limericks to lighthearted jabs, the Hotel Northampton ballroom was transformed Friday morning into a masterclass in the art of the roast.

The sun was hardly up when some 250 guests packed the room to kick off what Meghan Sullivan, Northampton’s marshal for the 2026 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Holyoke, called “the high holy season of St. Pat’s,” a morning defined by sharp-witted tributes to local heritage, potholes and the enduring power of a well-timed prayer.

Those gathered paid tribute to their Irish immigrant forefathers, highlighting their work ethic, family values and wit. Humor was certainly cooked up with the breakfast put on by the Northampton St. Patrick’s Association leading up to next weekend’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities in Holyoke.

Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra joined in on the fun, closing her limerick with a wink to her husband’s learning to use Instacart — a lighthearted nod to a widely discussed grocery store encounter from earlier this year.

Master of ceremonies Brian Joyce didn’t hold back roasting the city and Sciarra with his own limerick.

“We tax everything, including the rain. Tax rates increasing, it is insane,” he said. “The only thing shrinking is our great, dear, old Main.”

Joyce proceeded to rhyme about fiscal irresponsibility, Northampton as a city of potholes, pot shops and pansexuals and the way city drivers don’t heed traffic signs, ending however on a note in which he called Paradise City home.

One joke was taken a little too seriously when Sullivan said that having reached the “high ceiling” of being marshal, maybe the next step is to marry her boyfriend of 16 years, J.T. Trzchienski. This was by far the most roaring moment in the room Friday morning, with gasps erupting instead of laughs.

After Trzchienski yelled, “I do” from the crowd, Sullivan said, “What did I do,” assuring the room it was just a joke, adding a tongue-in-cheek comment that she’d have to join the Polish Association if the marriage happened.

Rev. Francis Reilly of St. Jerome’s Parish in Holyoke made short work of the morning’s chatter, demonstrating his foolproof method for silencing a room. As he approached the pulpit to lead the room in prayer before breakfast, the room was buzzing with voices. But as he started to recite the sign of the cross, the room’s attention was all on him.

“That’ll get ’em quiet,” Reilly said, and the room laughed and fell silent before he proceeded to say grace.

Moments later, Dave Fenton, president of the Northampton St. Patrick’s Association, remarked he needed Reilly’s collar after he was exasperated trying to give his introductory remarks to the loud room.

Work ethic, family

While wit was on full display, work ethic and family were just as central. This year’s parade awardees were praised for their dedication to community members and the city. Many people also took the opportunity to remember loved ones who weren’t in the room — parents, grandparents, and close family friends who have died.

In addition to being the ninth woman since 1980 to receive the marshal’s cane, Sullivan received citations from the offices of U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, Gov. Maura Healey, Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, Sen. Jo Comerford and the city of Northampton. A representative from McGovern’s office, along with Sabadosa and Sciarra, distributed the citations.

Sullivan, who graduated from Amherst College in 2005, owns Joe’s Cafe, a Northampton institution since 1974. She was also honored for her even deeper roots to the city, as well as her personality of never wanting the spotlight.

Sullivan is the founder of Katie’s Fund. Established in 2023, the fund has raised more than ,000 to advocate for and provide resources to foster children.

She is active with Friends of Children, an organization also dedicated to foster care, and the Smith Basketball Playmakers Club, a kindergarten through 8th grade basketball program. Sullivan is also the treasurer of the board of directors for the People’s Institute of Northampton, a nonprofit providing child care and preschool resources.

When interviewed ahead of the breakfast, Sullivan was asked how she fits all this into her schedule. Her response was, “I don’t know.” After a couple seconds of thinking, she added, “And I drink too much.”

She shared that her philosophy is, “to do good well,” adding that she is blessed to be in an industry where smiles are the goal.

“You don’t know how lucky you are in the hospitality industry where your job is to make people happy,” is something she said she frequently hears from friends. “Nobody is happy buying an insurance policy. If you’re doing it right, people are leaving with smiles on their faces.”

Sam Falcetti was honored with the James Brennan Award. He also went home with citations from the politicians in the room. Aside from being a bartender at the Northampton Elks Lodge, he is also active in the annual Jack Dunphy Toy Drive put on by the St. Patrick’s Association.

Michael Flynn, the retired owner of the Florence Barber Shop, was honored with the Tess Collins Ambassador Award for his 25 years of work that earned him the unofficial title of “the mayor of Florence.”

Lindsay Barron Labonte, who has run countless 5Ks in the area including the Hot Chocolate Run and the “Give ’em the Bird” run, received the Peter V. Kocot Service Award.

The Patricia and Mike Ahearn Civic Award was presented to Bryan Burke, owner of Burke Chevrolet. Fenton joked, “Whoever thought this would go to a used car salesman?”

Before the group headed over to the restaurant Fitzwilly’s, Jim O’Connor shared stories and songs themed on immigrant life in industrial Holyoke and the “brick by brick” process of building Chicago’s skyline.

In Holyoke, the St. Patrick’s Day Road Race will kick off Saturday, March 21 at 1 p.m. The following day the St. Patrick’s Day parade will step off at 11:10 a.m.

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