Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - "Everybody's Irish today, folks."
The annual St. Patrick's Day luncheon returned to the Buffalo Irish Center on Friday after the past couple of years were scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Every year, a number of the community's local leaders and officials gather to celebrate the St. Patrick's Day holiday at the Buffalo Irish Center on Abbott Road. This year's event saw a large number of people return for festivities, including Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, State Senators Tim Kennedy and Sean Ryan, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, and even New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.
"There's a real sense of release and re-birth this springtime," said Sen. Ryan during Friday's event. "People have not been able to do this for two years, and they're out today in force. Everyone's smiley, everyone's enjoying the weather. So we're looking forward to the parade this weekend."
"Very exciting to see so many people at the Irish Center for the St. Patrick's Day luncheon," added Mayor Brown. "It's a great annual tradition in the City of Buffalo that wasn't held for the last couple of years because of COVID. Jam-packed with people, and people are really enjoying themselves and enjoying being together."
Other members of the community also flocked to the Buffalo Irish Center to celebrate the St. Patrick's Day holiday, packing the facility with no seat left empty when it came time for lunch.
What was more significant about Friday's event was it was one of the first large gathering since the COVID-19 pandemic that did not see anyone restricted by protocols or other health guidelines.
"We've been following the science since Day 1, and that's what we've been telling people to do with the CDC guidelines and everything else. Making sure that people are safe, people are taking care of themselves, their families and each other," said Sen. Kennedy on Friday. "The fact that the numbers continue to go down is definitely promising, especially with the spring and summer seasons coming up."
Not only was Friday's event on Abbott Road a packed house, but Thursday - being St. Patrick's Day - was a madhouse for activity in Downtown Buffalo with people flocking to celebrate the holiday, enjoy the pleasant weather, and take in the NCAA Tournament taking place at KeyBank Center and in-and-around the area.
With many people taking advantage of no more restrictions and filling up bars, restaurants, and other facilities in Western New York, it is starting to feel like - for some - the world they once knew is starting to return to a sense of normalcy.
"People definitely feel more comfortable. Everybody wants us to be at the end of the pandemic," Mayor Brown said. "I certainly remind people that we have to continue to be safe. People need to continue to get vaccinated, if they're not, they need to get boostered, if they're not boostered. But it's great to get to this point, where people can come out in greater safety and really enjoy their time together."
While a return to normalcy sounds like a perfect scenario after two years of the pandemic altering life everyday life, some are reminded that COVID-19 is still out there, and it has reared its ugly head in the past.
"I'm not going to count out the pandemic. We thought it was over a few times, so let's mind our Ps and Qs and count our blessings, and hopefully it's all in our rearview mirror," Sen. Ryan said. "Yesterday, we had the world's shortest St. Patrick's Day parade from the Basilica to Lackawanna City Hall. It was the most people who ever attended that event, and it's just a signal that people are ready to get out in the season of re-birth, and to really get life going again."
As COVID-19 numbers in Western New York continue to drop at promising rates, it gives hope to so many that the world can start to live in an era when COVID-19 is now in its endemic stage.
"The health and science leaders are saying just that, that this pandemic is becoming an endemic. While we still need to be mindful, the numbers are showing that they are continually going down and we can feel more comfortable being out in the community, being with each other, being without a mask," Sen. Kennedy said. "It's certainly important to continue to mind each other and take care of each other. At the end of the day, it's a great day to be back together here at the Irish Center."