“If you're enough lucky to be Irish … You're lucky enough!” does not hold true this year. At least for now, that luck has run out.
The threat of the coronavirus has put an end to Butte and Anaconda’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities. The cancellation is unprecedented.
That doesn’t mean we can’t honor retired Butte priest, Father Thomas Haffey, who was chosen to be the 2020 grand marshal.
Earlier this week, he admitted to being slightly embarrassed to be chosen as this year’s grand marshal for Butte’s St. Patrick’s Day parade.
“I think there are others more qualified,” he said, “but I am incredibly honored.”
A number of people disagreed, including Phil Telling, a fellow Hibernian, who was not a bit surprised by Haffey’s comment.
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Neither was Zena Beth McGlashan, who described Haffey as a “humble man.”
“He is a genuine caring person,” Telling said, “and deserves to be grand marshal.”
Haffey, an Anaconda native, is the son of the late Patrick and Dorothy Haffey. His mother was of Scottish descent; his father’s family emigrated from Ardara in County Donegal.
Ardara, with an estimated population of less than 800, has been called the “best village in which to live in Ireland.”
The Anaconda native described his hometown and life at home as idyllic. He and his three siblings — Bill, Kathy and Andy — grew up in Anaconda.
“Our home was near the courthouse and right at the foot of the hills,” he said.
An added bonus for Haffey was attending Catholic schools — from first grade all the way through high school.
“The sisters and priests had such a positive impact on my life,” said Haffey, who remains thankful for his Catholic education.
Haffey has left a positive impact with some members of his congregation, including Telling, who described his friend as a “parish priest but a personal priest, too.”
According to Telling, before Mass, Haffey would always take the time to walk through the congregation and talk to people.
“You don’t see much of that anymore,” Telling said.
Growing up, Haffey acknowledged, there was not a lot of Irish influence in his household.
“Of course, we celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by going to Mass and having a dinner with corned beef and cabbage,” he recalled, “but that’s about it.”
The long-time priest made his first trip to his ancestral home in 1982, where he met his grandfather’s brothers and sister. In Ireland, the name is Haughey, not Haffey.
He made a return trip a few years ago when he, along with his siblings Andy and Kathy, returned to Ardara, where they met for the first time, a first cousin.
For a number of years, Haffey has been the chaplain for the Butte division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. A job he is happy to take on and considers a positive connection to his Catholic faith.
“It is important to have small clusters of rich cultural heritage,” he explained, “and keep it going.”
According to fellow Hibernian Joe Lee, as chaplain, Haffey has played an integral part in the promotion of Irish heritage and culture in the Butte community.
“It is an honor and a privilege to have Father Haffey serve as this year’s grand marshal,” he said.
As for Haffey, he views the parade as another “positive way to celebrate and continue our Irish culture in Butte.”
So although the parade has been canceled, if it was still on tap, Haffey would not, as grand marshal, be sitting atop a car, waving to the crowd.
Instead, he would be marching with his fellow Hibernians, which, he said, “is just as it should be.”