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Inaugural Céilí King – Ray Donnelly


Inaugural Céilí King – Ray Donnelly

It’s extremely fitting that Ray Donnelly be crowned the very first Céilí King (in English “King of the Irish Party”). Loosely translated the Gaelic word Céilí (pronounced Cay Lee) means Irish Dance or Irish Party – and that’s precisely what we’re planning to have during this year’s Roanoke St. Patrick’s Celebration.

After the 1994 St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Roanoke, Ray, always the dedicated Irishman, approached then Roanoke Mayor David Bowers and expressed concern about the state of the parade and event. Ray was given this advice from the Mayor, “help us do something about it.” And that’s precisely what he did.

For the next six years Ray with the help of dedicated friends took over organizing the parade and raising much needed funds in order to attract pipe bands, other groups and to pay the expenses of the event. In 1996, under Ray’s leadership, the St. Patrick’s Day Celebration added the Celtic Festival, which is still a huge part of the event. Today, a mere 15 years later, the Roanoke St. Patrick’s Day Celebration is one of the largest St. Pat’s events in the entire Southeast U.S.!

In 1994, the year Ray attended and recognized the event’s need for help, the entire parade took less than one minute to pass your viewing location, and only 50 people came to watch (two of those were Ray and his wife Jeanne)! Today the parade includes over 100 entries, takes about 1-½ hours from start to finish and draws an estimated 14,000 – 15,000 people to downtown – and many attendees come from out of state! The Roanoke St. Patrick’s Day Celebration is one of the busiest days for business in downtown Roanoke, and judging by the enthusiasm gained each year, it will only get bigger.

So Ray Donnelly, or should we say Mr. Céilí King sir, we thank you for your hard work, vision, and enormous contribution to the entire Roanoke Valley – your legacy will continue and we are proud to honor you at both the McDonald’s St. Pat’s Parade.

Look for Ray riding with Mayor Bowers in the parade, and from stage at the HomeTown Bank Celtic Festival at about 1:15pm.

Photos of early St. Pat’s Parades


1994

1995

1996

1997: Norman Finishing Tackle Choir – they're still a parade favorite!

1998

Page from Ray Donnelly's Scrapbook
(Click to Enlarge)

2009 Grand Marshals — Daisy & Benson


Daisy (Golden Doodle) and Benson (Golden Retriever) – This Year's McDonald's St. Pat's Parade Grand Marshals

Reading Program Pairs Saint Francis Volunteer Dogs With Elementary Students Students improve comprehension skills by reading to the Saint Francis volunteer dogs in the unique program called, "Reading to the Dogs".

Saint Francis Service Dogs announces a unique elementary-level reading program involving 1st, 2nd and 5th grade classes and two volunteer service dogs. The program is called "Reading to the Dogs" and began at Goodview Elementary School in October with two dogs, Benson and Daisy, sitting calmly as the students read to them in a non-threatening and nurturing environment that allows them to improve their reading skills.

The participating dogs are well-trained, well-socialized, calm Saint Francis volunteer dogs. Dogs must be Delta certified in order to participate. This nationally recognized certification helps ssure that all dogs in the program are appropriate for use in this manner.

The participating students are eager and excited to read to these volunteer dogs. The program has been very successful and has energized the students. The program has also accelerated the progress of the student's reading and comprehensive skills.

Goodview School Reading Program Specialist, Barbara Pennington said, "The students look forward to seeing the dogs each week. They have all made great gains. Some have made as much as a years progress in only 4 months! Their confidence has improved and they now enjoy reading."

Saint Francis volunteer dog handler Carole Firestone said, "I feel that Reading to the Dogs Program has been such a positive experience for all involved. Daisy Doodle and I thoroughly enjoy our time with the students and through the school year. The bond that has formed between children and dogs that is so heart warming."

For more information, contact Saint Francis Service Dogs at (540) 342-3647, ext. 106; email; or visit www.saintfrancisdogs.org. Other online outlets featuring Saint Francis Service Dog include videos of our service dogs in action on YouTube and Facebook.

Saint Francis Service Dogs is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) community based organization that raises and trains service dogs for children and adults with emotional, physical and learning disabilities. Saint Francis is dedicated to increasing the independence of persons with disabilities
through the use of service dogs. Service dogs trained at the Roanoke, VA training center are placed throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. In contrast to leader dogs for the blind, service dogs are specially trained to help people with severe ambulatory and other physical, emotional and learning disabilities.

 







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