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 Department as their guests.
Among those in attendance were Westhampton Beach Volunteer Fire Chief Darryl Schunck, former Southampton Village Fire Department Capt. David Raynor and fire department member Elyse Richman.
“It was an amazing experience,” Richman said. “The sun was shining as we walked with 450,000 people cheering us on. The hospitality of Dublin Fire Service was amazing.”
Members of the Westhampton Beach Fire Department met dignitaries such as Daithí de Róiste, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, and the mascot, Rory the Irish Wolfhound, Richman said.
And that hospitality will be returned — Dublin Fire Service will return to Southampton this summer. They will be hosted by the Southampton Fire Department and march in the Southampton Village Independence Day Parade.
It's not the first time the East End has been represented at The Emerald Isle: In 2022, a long-standing tradition of friendship and brotherhood between Southampton Fire Brigade and Dublin Fire Brigade remained unshaken.
According to Chris Brenner, information officer for the Southampton Fire Department, four members of the SFD traveled in 2022 to Dublin, Ireland to march side by side in the St. Patrick's Day Parade.
