Do the Shamrock Shake: The Cronin family’s St. Patrick’s Day has changed this year but their passion remains

The sound of tap shoes clicking together and the smell of Irish stew filled the air of Browne’s Irish Marketplace as sophomore Mary Cronin finished her first Irish meal of the day. People gathered around her, getting ready to watch a day full of dances and celebrate the Irish culture over Labor Day weekend for the Irish Fest.

Mary, along with her family, look forward to another big Irish celebration, St. Patrick’s Day. This year, they won’t be able to celebrate the same way, but the tradition still remains an important part of their family.

Mary went to her first Irish Fest when she was only 12 days old. From there, she volunteered at an Irish dance fest five years later and started classes, which has now become a major part of her life — keeping her family’s Irish culture alive.

“At Irish Fest, there was a teacher picking people from the crowd to teach them how to Irish dance, and me and my sister went up there,” Mary said. “I really liked it, so from there they signed me up from classes and I’ve been doing it since.”

Both of Mary’s parents, Jennie and Shaun, are around 50% Irish and have always enjoyed celebrating their heritage with their parents. While Jennie never really got to go to parades as a young girl, she had big Irish dinners and wanted to continue that tradition with her own children. 

Irish dancing was a new endeavor for the family of four, but they were open to letting the girls try it out, especially since it involves a culture they enjoy so much.

“I have always supported them dancing,” Jennie said. “I ask them every year if they still want to dance or try something else because all I want is for them to enjoy it and be happy.”

During a normal year, both Mary and her sister Bridget jig for 15-20 performances , along with performing in three parades for an ocean of green people that are there to celebrate.

The long days of dancing are normally followed by an Irish dinner typically hosted at the Mary’s home, with friends and family gathered around the table to eat corn beef and cabbage — a traditional Irish dish.

This year’s parades and events are extremely limited, so the Cronin family has had to adapt their usual festivities.

Because of their passionate heritage, they’re used to celebrating year-round even if it’s not an elaborate event — whether that be eating traditional Irish dishes at family dinner or going to their weekly Irish dance practice.

“You know, we aren’t just Irish on St. Patrick’s Day,” Jennie said. “We can still celebrate and enjoy it just as much, even though it is not the same.”

Although they have to be masked up and they don’t get to spot their parents in the huge crowd, the Cronin girls rekindle their St. Patrick’s Day spirit without letting the pandemic get in the way.

This year their studio, Driscoll School of Irish Dance, is professionally filming and selling recordings of each tirelessly practiced dance to those who still want to experience the lucky spirit, COVID-19-safe style.

Their dance teacher of 11 years, Brigid Driscoll, has known the Cronin family since she opened the Driscoll School of Irish Dance in 2010. She wants the dancers to be able to celebrate as much as possible during the pandemic, even if that means celebrating remotely.

“We still wanted to do some performances this year,” Driscoll said. “Irish dancing is usually super social, so it is disappointing they have to miss those interactions but I’m very proud of them for sticking through the pandemic and even seeing everyone’s faces on a screen made it feel a little like normal.”

Mary and her sister lace up their hard shoes and begin warming up for daily practice on their hand-built stage in their basement. 

The two girls have been learning their solos since the beginning of the year just like they do each year. They’ve already memorized the group dances from past years, but still practice to ensure they perfect each step and hop.

Instead of their usual large performances, they have the chance to perform one show at their mom’s office in addition to their filmed performance. Although it isn’t a normal St. Patrick’s Day for the Cronin family, they will take any kind of celebration they can get.

Cronin is thankful her royal blue dress and curly blonde wig will still be seen by someone, but they’re trying to find a few more places to rekindle the tradition they’ve had for the past 11 years. 

This year the Cronins will still have a family dinner, only this time, they won’t have to bring more chairs in for the dining room. They don’t get to cram around the table and mingle with people from all over the neighborhood and beyond, but their tradition carries on—pandemic or not. 

“Me and my family have always just been 100% in with it,” Mary said. “[My parents] really do support me and my sister as long as we are happy doing it.”