Retro RFH St. Patrick’s Day Parading

Image March 7, 2024 Elaine Van Develde

RFH Band marches in St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Belmar in 1993
Photo/Kathy Robbins

The Rumson St. Patrick’s Day Parade is set to step off on Sunday, barring rain. And we’re thinking that there’s nothing quite like celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, Irish or not, with a couple of bulldogs leading your alma mater’s marching band. That’s how RFH did it back in 1993.

The band always kept in step with tradition — and parades, of course. And when there were no St. Pat’s parades in which to march in Rumson back in the day, they appeared in many others and made quite a showing, dogs and all. This one was likely the Belmar parade. There were even many times that RFH organizations, like the RFH Drill Team, even made a mark marching in the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade (but more on that tomorrow).

Back in the day, the RFH Marching Band was quite big and very showy. Those dogs’ barks were mighty big and uniform in step. The banner? Notice that RFH used to be RHS, likely because the school used to be just Rumson High School, but that was way before 1993.

So, march back with us and remember the parading band and other RFH marching traditions and good times. Fair Haven-raised Kathy Robbins brought these gems to us with her memories of many good St. Patrick’s Day celebration times, including that traditional party at Knights of Columbus in Fair Haven, now dubbed Columbus Club. We know that’s still a diehard tradition and is also set for Sunday starting at 2 p.m..

Now about that marching … Kathy remembers “I have always loved St Patrick Day (even though I am only partially Irish). Memories of past celebrations: Corned beef and cabbage at the Knight’s of Columbus Hall, my cousin Larry Farley’s annual family party, everyone wearing green and trying to look like leprechauns, crying when Bing Crosby sings Too-ra-loo-ra- lora when Barry Fitzgerald sees his old mother in the movie, Going My Way ( getting a little misty just thinking about that scene) and all the local parades, especially Belmar, which had many Irish bars … Hard to believe it’s almost 30 years.”

Yes, it is. But, some things never really change, including some Irish parading fun.

Cheers to the parade passing by on Sunday with the RFH Marching Band at the helm!