Holyoke St. Patrick’s parade draws crowds, Irish dignitaries and a Colleen controversy

HOLYOKE — Wearing a green Irish knit sweater, Ellen Donohue celebrated St. Patrick’s Day the same way she has for some 45 years, by watching Colleen floats and Irish step dancers and listening to kiltie bands playing “Danny Boy” and “Irish Eyes are Smiling.” “Every year it gets better,” she said of the 71st Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade. “It is the spirit of the people and the community. It is wonderful and it gets everyone together.” Donohue has attended years when she has had to layer long johns on top of sweaters on top of her coat, but this year’s parade, which fell on the actual holiday, was a treat with warmer temperatures and predicted rain turned into just a…