By STEPHEN FAY
For the Gazette
HOLYOKE — The 69th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is still three months off, but planning for the tradition-rich celebration is well underway.
That’s especially true for the crowning event — the one that involves an actual crown. That event, sure as shamrocks, is the naming of the 2020 Grand Colleen, who will reign over the city’s justly famous St. Patrick’s Day Parade and join the ranks of Colleens of yore that dates back to 1955.
Serving as Colleen Coordinator is Kathryn Dulchinos. For more than 30 years, she’s been “very involved with everything Colleen.” But so, too, are the members of her team.
“It takes a lot of hands,” Dulchinos said, listing tasks and events leading up to the Grand Colleen Coronation Ball Feb. 15 where the 2020 Grand Colleen will be named. With that honor come gifts from local donors, a scholarship and a trip for two to Ireland. Since 1955, the Grand Colleen and her court have been hugely popular participants in Holyoke’s parade, sending forth good cheer from a royal float that bears them along the 3-mile route.
But first things first. Job No. 1 is compiling a list of aspiring Colleens. Applicants must be female, single (never married, never had a child) and reside either in Holyoke or South Hadley. They can be no younger than 17 and no older than 22 as of March 17, 2020. And they must claim Irish ancestry. Applications are available at holyokecolleenpageant@gmail.com. The deadline for submitting applications is Dec.27. Then the pace picks up.
A contestant orientation and tea will be held Saturday, Dec. 28, at 10 a.m. at The Wherehouse at 109 Lyman St., Holyoke. The young ladies will learn about the role and responsibilities of a Colleen as well as the busy schedule, which starts on Thursday, Jan. 2, with a rehearsal to prepare for the Grand Colleen Pageant that will be held Saturday night, Jan. 4, at Holyoke High School.
The action starts early on Jan. 4. At 8:30 a.m., a three-judge panel will convene at Holyoke High School to interview Colleen contestants. The judges will have been provided, in advance, with resumes filled out by the applicants.
“We’re looking for very well-rounded young ladies, who can be role models for others,” Dulchinos said.
Following the individual interviews, the judges will award each candidate points on a 1-10 scale in the areas of intelligence, personality, poise and appearance. The judges also will be interested in contestants’ community service history, volunteer activities and other indications of good citizenship, such as Honor Society membership. Later that day, but before the evening program, the contestants will vote for one of their fellow aspirants to receive the Miss Congeniality Award. In 2000, the name of that honor was changed to The Bonnie Baker Miss Congeniality Award in memory of Bonnie Baker, a longtime mentor and friend to Colleens who organized the pageant in years past and was a legendary volunteer.
The five finalists will be named on the night of Jan. 4 at the Grand Colleen Pageant, to be held at the high school starting at 7 p.m. Also at that event, the 2020 Miss Congeniality will be introduced. Then, on Friday, Jan. 10, the five finalists will make a public appearance at the Grand Marshal’s Reception. The 2020 Grand Marshal is Holyoke attorney John J. Driscoll.
The finalists will be honored at the Grand Colleen Coronation Ball on Feb. 15. The highlight of the night, following one last round of judging for poise and appearance, will be the announcement of the 2020 Grand Colleen.
Lauren Hanna Dulude of Holyoke, a graduate of Holyoke Catholic High School who earned her bachelor of science from Wheelock College in developmental psychology with a minor in child health and writing, is the reigning Grand Colleen. She is attending Boston University, where she anticipates graduating with her master of science in child life and family centered care this May.