HOLYOKE –  The Hibernian Society will host a drive through Irish dinner to commemorate St. Patrick’s Day, despite festivities in Holyoke being cancelled.

Fran Hennessey, who serves as the public relations chairperson for the Hibernian Society, said last year the group “celebrated our Irish Culture at the Log Cabin in Holyoke with a traditional sit down corned beef and cabbage dinner with ribs.” In addition to the sit down dinner, he said, the group celebrated their culture with live music by the Noel Henry Band of Boston and live dancing by the Cassin School of Irish Dance.

In a typical year without the coronavirus, Hennessey said “AOH president Paul Hogan and his committee would be finishing up at least two floats for the parade,” and “LAOH President Paula Paoli and her committee would be putting the finishing touches on the Annual Quilt developed by the ladies.” Additionally, he said, “The Hibernians would assist at the Road Race and prepare their contingent to march in the Parade on Sunday.”

However, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the restrictions surrounding the virus, he said this year when the group was planning ways to celebrate their Irish culture, “our energetic and enthusiastic chairperson, Joe O’Connor, suggested the curbside pickup of a traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner with ribs.” This, he said would allow people to stay safe at home, celebrate and still help a worthy cause.

“People could celebrate at home with small family gatherings and also contribute to our scholarship,” he said.

The dinner will cost $25 per person and also includes one entry into the group’s 50/50 raffle. The dinner will include “a traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner with ribs, hash, carrots, potatoes, brown bread and dessert.”

The dinner will take place on March 6 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dinners can be ordered ahead of time by calling O’Connor at 627-7148, by calling Hennessey at 785-5687 or by making reservations online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/irish-night-in-holyoke-2021-a-go-go-tickets-136346133957 by Feb. 27. Reserved dinners will be picked up at The Log Cabin in Holyoke at 500 Easthampton Rd.

Proceeds from the dinner, Hennessey explained, will benefit the Maurice A. Donahue Memorial Scholarship. Hennessey said the scholarship was “named in honor of Hibernian Member and Massachusetts State Senate President, Maurice A. Donahue, in 1980.”

“Donahue always sought to encourage young people to attend higher education. The Hibernians wish to continue his legacy by encouraging young people to go on to higher education, thus we offer the scholarship each year,” he explained. Hennessey said last year the organization “gave a total of $3,000 to three deserving students.”

In addition to purchasing a meal to go, he said if people wish to donate to the scholarship fund directly they can do so by sending monetary contributions to the Maurice A. Donahue Memorial Scholarship at P.O. Box 6535, Holyoke, MA 01041-6535. Those of Irish decent who are interested in joining the Society can do so by going to https://aoh-holyoke.com.

Hennessey added that typically, the Hibernians “volunteer every six weeks at Kate’s Kitchen,” which is run by Providence Ministries. However, due to COVID-19, they had stopped serving food at the kitchen, but are still collecting donations for the organization. He also emphasized, “Like everyone else since COVID, we long for the ways that we can celebrate our heritage, [and] greet long lost friends the way we are accustomed and attend the parade, Road Race, Communion Breakfast, award dinners, Irish dancing and enjoy Irish music,” he said.