By Doug Miller
The Nassau County executive and former gubernatorial candidate made his name as an outsider, and, given all the harsh press Irish Day has generated in recent years, the two seem made for each other.
The festival came under heavy fire last year from then Democratic City Councilman Denis Kelly, who told the Herald he thought the event's unstated emphasis on drinking was demeaning to the Irish people it was meant to celebrate. He suggested that the event be moved to a Sunday, or out of Long Beach's bar-crowded West End.
The battle has been renewed again this year, with the event receiving quiet condemnation from the school district and more vocal criticism from the city's Coalition to Prevent Underage Drinking, whose director, Judi Vining, was critical of Irish Day in a Newsday story.
But the event has no shortage of defenders. Nassau Legislator Denise Ford, a Republican who lives in the West End and is a former president of the West End Neighbors Association, said she loves the day and that it is telling that, as the event grows, so does its family feel. "Years past, you couldn't get past the bars, the congestion was so tight," Ford said. "Last year, all the congestion was by the kiddie rides. So that, to me, is a good sign."
Ray McCann, the president of the Nassau County Hibernians and the parade's chairman, said he was disappointed and concerned by the negative attention the day receives. "Here they are blaming the Hibernians when there are 364 other days in a year," McCann said. "We're against underage drinking, we're against drinking in the streets. And you won't see that at our event. There is none. In 16 years of this parade there's been no lockups. The bars make enough money without young kids."
The day is scheduled to begin with a 9 a.m. Mass at Sacred Heart Church in Island Park, celebrated by the Hibernians' chaplain, the Rev. John Tutone. The marchers will assemble on Washington Boulevard at 11:30 a.m. and begin marching at noon. Throughout the day, West Beech Street will be closed to traffic so 50 to 60 street vendors can sell Irish and other theme merchandise. About 50 groups will march, including 14 pipe bands, a half-dozen fire departments, the Nassau County Police Department's mounted unit and various civic groups.
Long Beach Police will be deployed in full force in the West End and elsewhere in the city and, according to a statement released by the city on Tuesday, there will be a zero-tolerance policy in effect for the public consumption of alcohol.
"The zero-tolerance approach on Irish Day is not a new policy," said Lt. Michael Tangney. "But we will have a stronger police presence this year, and that means a stricter enforcement of the law."
Police will be stationed along the parade route through the West End, inspecting bottles, glasses, cans and cups for alcohol. "We will also have a police presence in other parts of the city - the center of town and the east end, on the beach, and along the streets adjacent to the beach, including Oceanview," Tangney said.
City Manager Edwin Eaton said he believes the total cost to the city in police overtime and other expenses will be about $70,000. But the Hibernians say the cost is closer to zero, since the celebration attracts tourists from throughout the region who spend money in the city, and all of the day's revenues go to local charities. Last year, for instance, according to Long Beach Hibernians President Andrew Healey, the Long Beach Police Department's DARE unit, which lost a significant amount of its funding due to county budget cuts, received a gift of some $5,000. Other beneficiaries include the Long Beach Catholic Regional School, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Hibernian scholarship funds.
Healey said he tries to maintain thick skin when he hears Irish Day criticized. "I've started to get the feeling that people are stereotyping the Irish for drinking," he said. "And that's a bad road to go down, and it's not going to work."
Comments about this story? DMiller @liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 213.
