Federal Way raises the Irish flag at City Hall

Dozens of community members gathered March 15 at Federal Way City Hall to celebrate the raising of the Irish flag ahead of St. Patrick’s Day.

Craig Patrick led the proceedings, and the Puget Sound Firefighters Pipes and Drums started the event with their music.

Mayor Jim Ferrell read the proclamation, noting that he is also of Irish descent and that King County has the seventh largest county population of Irish descendants in the United States, totaling over 195,000 residents.

Ferrell noted that many United States presidents have Irish heritage, including President Barack Obama. Ferrell included a quote from Obama in his speech: “It is in times of great challenge, of great change, when we remember who we truly are. We, the Irish and Americans, are people who never stop believing in a brighter future — never has a nation so small inspired so much in another.”

Ferrell also included a quote from George Bernard Shaw: “Some men see things as they are and say why, I dream things that never were and say why not.” This quote was also used by John F. Kennedy when he addressed Ireland’s Parliament.

During his speech, Ferrell reflected on George Washington’s General Order on March 17, 1780, when he commemorated St. Patrick’s Day. The order granted his army a day off to recognize the Irish struggle for independence from British rule.

In his speech, Craig Patrick also shared some historic connections as well as some modern day local heroes that he says “embody the spirit of St Patrick.” This year, this included Tony Robinson and Joan Murphy.

“Tony Robinson is a staple in the community. Him and his wife worked with the Caregivers Network and he works with St. Vincent’s de Paul to make sure everything gets done that needs to,” Mr. Patrick said.

Joan Murphy has supported the Federal Way celebration of St. Patrick’s Day for the past six years, and Craig Patrick celebrated her new role on the Federal Way School Board as well, saying that she’s done a “nice job.”

Patrick shared a short history of the Saint and summed up the story by saying “St. Patrick was an individual who had great faith and self-discipline. This set the standard for many Irish people and people of Irish descent. We look at St. Patrick at times and to the saints in general on how to how to navigate our lives.”

In the Northwest, Patrick pointed to Father Michael J. McGibbon, who was the founder of the Knights of Columbus. The organization was founded to “help widows and children whose fathers passed away while trying to provide for their family.”

After the flag raising, Patrick organized a volunteer opportunity through the group Stand Up Federal Way on Saturday, March 16.

“In the spirit of St. Patrick and being of service, we’re going to try to make our community better by doing a litter pick,” he said at the flag raising.

On Sunday, the local Federal Way dance Irish Dance Company called Fire & Ice performed at the Irish Festival at Seattle Center.

The Fire & Ice Irish Dance Company “began in September of 2001 to give training and performing opportunities to both children and adults in Irish dancing,” according to their website. “After 18 successful years, Fire & Ice Irish Dance Studio was opened in January of 2020 in order to provide a home to our performing companies and to offer beginning Irish dance lessons to our community.”

The dance company focuses on non-competitive Irish dance and performs in a variety of local festivals and schools.