Tara Gael dancers relish their big win. (Click on photo for slideshow.)
It was an exciting night all ’round at Finnigan’s Wake as the Philadelphia Saint Patrick’s Day Observance Association finally put the 2010 parade to bed. (Not that parade planning and fund-raising ever really stops.)
Anyone who won was plainly pleased to have been chosen. But if there was a prize for over-the-top enthusiasm it would have to go to the Tara Gael Dancers, who won the Marie C. Burns Award for Outstanding Adult Dance Group. They also won in 2008 and 2007, but clearly, winning never gets old for this group.
There were several repeat winners as well. 2nd Street Irish Society was the winner of the Msgr. Thomas J. Rilley Award for Outstanding Fraternal Organization for the third year running. Rince Ri dance school won the Walter Garvin Award for Outstanding Children’s Irish Dance Group for the second year in a row. St. Katherine of Siena N.E. Philadelphia picked up the Father Kevin C. Trautner Award for Outstanding School or Religious Organization that displays their Irish Heritage while promoting Christian Values for the third year since the prize was established.
Here are this year’s award winners overall:
Honorable James H.J. Tate Award
Group that Best Exemplified the Spirit of the Parade
McDade / Cara Championship Dancers
Msgr. Thomas J. Rilley Award
Outstanding Fraternal Organization
2nd Street Irish Society
George Costello Award
Organization with the Outstanding Float in the Parade
Cavan Society
Hon. Vincent A. Carroll Award
Outstanding Musical Unit Excluding Grade School Bands
Philadelphia Police & Fire, Pipes & Drum Band
Anthony J. Ryan Award
Outstanding Grade School Band
Catholic Elementary Schools Marching Band
Walter Garvin Award
Outstanding Children’s Irish Dance Group
Rince Ri School of Irish Dance
Marie C. Burns Award
Outstanding Adult Dance Group
Tara Gael Dancers
Joseph E. Montgomery Award
Outstanding AOH and/or LAOH Divisions
All AOH & LAOH Divisions
Joseph J. “Banjo” McCoy Award
Outstanding Fraternal Organization
Cairdeas Irish Brigade
James F. Cawley Parade Director’s Award
Outstanding Irish Performance or Display
2010 Cardinal O’Hara High School Marching Band
Father Kevin C. Trautner Award
Outstanding School or Religious Organization that displays their Irish Heritage while promoting Christian Values
St. Katherine of Siena N.E. Philadelphia
Maureen McDade McGrory Award
Outstanding Children’s Irish Dance Group Exemplifying the Spirit of Irish Culture through Traditional Dance
Coyle School of Irish Dance
