WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY — Irish eyes were smiling as several members of the Westhampton Beach Volunteer Fire Department headed to Dublin, Ireland recently to march in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade alongside the Dublin Fire Brigade, as their guests.
Among those present were Westhampton Beach Volunteer Fire Department Chief Darryl Schunck, ex-Captain David Raynor of the Southampton Village Fire Department and Elyse Richman, a member of the fire police.
“It was an amazing experience,” Richman said. “The sun was shining as we marched with 450,000 people cheering us on. The hospitality of the Dublin Fire Brigade was amazing.”
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Members of the Westhampton Beach Fire Department met dignities including Daithí de Róiste, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, and the mascot, Rory the Irish Wolfhound, Richman said.
And that hospitality will be returned — the Dublin Fire Brigade will be coming back to Southampton this summer; they will be hosted by the Southampton Village Fire Department and marching in the Southampton Village Independence Day Parade.
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It’s not the first time the East End has been represented on The Emerald Isle: In 2022, a longtime tradition of friendship and brotherhood between the Southampton Fire Department and the Dublin Fire Brigade remained steadfast.
According to Chris Brenner, public information officer for the Southampton Fire Department, four members of the SFD traveled in 2022v to Dublin, Ireland to march side by side in the St. Patrick’s Day parade.
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