Plenty of corned beef and cabbage at Meriden AOH

MERIDEN — The Meriden division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians prepared well for its 88th annual St. Patrick’s Day dinner Saturday. It had ordered 285 pounds of corned beef and 100 pounds each of carrots, cabbage and potatoes from Thurston Foods, of Wallingford.

People came to enjoy the dinner and a performance by dancers from the Horgan Academy of Irish Dance.

“I think St. Patrick’s Day is a good Catholic day where we honor St. Patrick,” said Wayne Sweeney, the vice president of Meriden AOH.

The only event bigger for the organization is the city’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sweeney said. The parade will take place next Saturday.

Wallingford resident Darlene Behr-Farrell said she comes to the dinner every year for the authentic Irish at-mosphere.

“The reason I do come here is because it is true Irish spirit,” she said with a brogue. “Irish spirit is good music, good food and good people.”

State Rep. Emil “Buddy” Altobello, D-Meriden, came to the dinner wearing green pants and a green hat. He has been involved with the Meriden AOH for about 25 years, he said.

Many of the volunteers at the dinner said it and the parade are their favorite events of the year.

AOH member Geraldine Cosgrove-Reynolds served the cabbage. “I always serve the cabbage,” she said, and then laughed.

She will be driving the “shamrock-mobile” in the parade this year. Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day is important to her because some of her family is from Ireland, she said.

“My mother was born and raised in Ireland,” she said. “It’s tradition.”

The proceeds go toward other AOH activities and help fund its $3,000 college scholarships for one Platt and one Maloney High School student.