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Break Out The Bagpipes: Larchmont Celebrates Firefighting History

LARCHMONT, N.Y. -- The Larchmont Historical Fire Company will host its Traditional Irish Night celebration on Saturday, March 4, at the American Legion Hall of Flint Park in Larchmont.

Entertainment will be provided by Al Craven and Bob Kenison of Those Weasels, who perform Irish tunes and golden oldies.

Entertainment will be provided by Al Craven and Bob Kenison of Those Weasels, who perform Irish tunes and golden oldies.

Photo Credit: Provided

Guests and the general public are invited to enjoy a traditional St. Patrick’s Day celebration. The activities will include music, dance, history, food and fun.

Irish Night, hosted for almost a century by Larchmont Fire Department’s Engine Company, celebrates the heritage of many of the firefighters with a traditional St. Patrick’s Day’s feast of corned beef and cabbage rounded out by appetizers, soda bread, beverages and dessert.

Tastings of firefighter-selected beers will accompany the traditional meal. The hosts will appear in their red shirts, black pants, white belts, spats and illuminated helmets topped with torches.

Entertainment will be provided by Al Craven and Bob Kenison of Those Weasels, who perform Irish tunes and golden oldies. A highlight will be performances by an award-winning troupe of Irish dancers.

This year’s honorees are local veterans of the Civil War, particularly those from two regiments composed mostly of firefighters from New York City and surrounding communities. The 11th Infantry Fire Zouaves were commanded by Colonel Charles Loeser who lived in the Larchmont Manor House during the 1890s, according to a release from the Larchmont Historical Society.  

The 5th Infantry Fire Zouaves included Private Nicholas Hoyt, a Mamaroneck fisherman who fought at Fredericksburg and died after slogging through General Burnside’s disastrous winter “Mud March” across the Rappahannock River.

A long-standing tradition of Larchmont’s volunteer firefighters, Irish Night was revived in 2014 by the Larchmont Historical Fire Company, a committee of the Larchmont Historical Society.

Proceeds from the event and a 50/50 raffle will go to maintain the Historical Fire Company’s growing fleet of antique apparatus, which will be parked outside the party. 

These include a 1922 American LaFrance pumper retired from fighting fires in Larchmont Village, a 1910 Brush Runabout “chief’s car,” and, new this year, an 1891 Chapman chemical extinguisher cart.

Tickets for the fest are $50, with discounts for Larchmont Historical Society members, couples, veterans and group purchasers. Find more information on the event or ticket purchase at http://irishnight.larchmonthistory.org/.

The event will begin at 7 p.m.

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