Closing Out March with a Bang: Brian Matthews Talks Montauk’s 63rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade

In his 9th year as President of the Montauk Friends of Erin, Brian Matthews sat down and spoke to Hamptons.com about their 63rd St. Patrick’s Day parade taking place this Sunday, March 30th, at noon in Montauk. Matthews said,  “We’re pretty happy to get a big turnout like we year’s past. Every year, though, it becomes harder and harder. It’s one reason why we pushed it back.”

For years, the Montauk parade was always the Sunday after St. Patrick’s Day. Then, a few years ago, it was pushed back to the last Sunday in March. Brian said, “I think that year it had to do with Easter Sunday … but maybe with that one extra week, the weather turned a little bit warmer. You know you’re competing for people’s attention and availability. We’re pulling bands and firefighters and everybody from all over.
So, we decided, “Let’s be the official last one and close out March with a big bang. Now, with so many parades, we like being last.”

This year’s Grand Marshal is Joe Bloecker. Brian Matthews said, “Some years, it’s easy. Some years, it’s tougher. Joe’s been in the club for 30 years; He was a President for 10-plus years! It was about time! It’s a whole weekend of festivities, and we enjoy it; it’s a lot of work, but it’s well worth it, and it’s a nice thing to be able to do. This year was just his time.” Matthews said, One of the wonderful things about being the president (of the club) is you get to spend a great complete week with the Grand Marshal.

What can the community expect from this year’s parade? He said, “We have 11, I think, confirmed; that’s more fire departments than in the past. We will have various dignitaries of elected officials and judges, town board members, and folks from the county legislature. Wonderful bands, bagpipes, floats, and so much more. Everybody’s involved as it is, so it’s just kind of a way for everybody (to participate.). Matthews went on to say what an amazing job the many police departments, both local and from up the island, do with marching, protecting, and keeping things safe and wonderful.

Brian Matthews is soon to turn 50 years old, and, with his wife Heather, he has two children, one in high school and one in grammar school. He said about the parade, “We kick off at noon at the (Montauk)Fire House. And we march to the IGA. All of us (his family) are marching this year in the parade in various groups. He explained, “I’ll be marching with the fire department. My wife and son will be marching with the junior firefighters, and my daughter will be marching with the Girl Scouts. That’s four generations of marchers.”

Matthews said, “Howie of East End Lines” paints the green stripe down the center of the Montauk Village. Patrick Maloney, who works at the Montauk School, has been hanging the American and Irish flags in the quad for decades. He’s another thirty-plus-year member of the club.

Finally, Brian Matthews said it would be too long to list all those instrumental in the parade. Then he mentioned Kathy Keller, the Grand Marshall in 2018. He said Kathy does so much year round and is the glue that binds everything together every year. He said all the money they raise goes for special situations. Things like fishing tournaments and “several little things throughout.” He detailed things they donate to, such as the retreat, the food pantry, the skate park that was rebuilt, and the library. He said that it also includes if a family needs little things like Christmas presents or anything.

If one has never attended the Montauk parade, it is soothing to see. Around 40,000 folks will be lining the parade path, cheering on friends, listening to bands, and experiencing the best of what Montauk, the east end, and Long Island Life have to offer.