- by Casey Ek
(From left) Cassandra Leeper, Hayley O'Brien and Brooke McGlinchey are the three candidates vying for Belle Plaine's 2020 Miss Shamrock title.
(Back from left) St. Patrick's Day Grand Marshals T.C. and Carol Fogarty, Luke Fogarty, Lucas O'Brien, Collin Fahey, Will Fahey, 2019 First Princess Alyson Dvorak, emcee Kate Fogarty, and 2019 Second Princess Courtney Maher stopped for a photo with the 2020 Miss Shamrock candidates (seated) Cassandra Leeper, Hayley O'Brien and Brooke McGlinchey.
The time-honored tradition of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day is rapidly descending on Belle Plaine. While the businesses and bands are preparing for the celebration in downtown Belle Plaine on March 14, the three candidates hoping to be crowned Miss Shamrock 2020 are doing so just as much.
Last Sunday, March 8, the candidates (in no particular order), Hayley O’Brien, Brooke McGlinchey and Cassandra Leeper, went before the judges and made their case for why they should be crowned Miss Shamrock. Prior to that, however, the three juniors at Belle Plaine High School individually sat down with the Belle Plaine Herald.
Hayley O’Brien
Hayley O’Brien knew from a young age that she would one day put her name in the hat for Belle Plaine’s Miss Shamrock. Some gentle encouragement from the women in her family, namely her aunt, may have put the plans in motion, but O’Brien said she wouldn’t have had it any other way.
“I’m just really excited for it. I’m just really excited to be running for it with the girls,” O’Brien said.
The daughter of Pat and Linda O'Brien, O’Brien has a rich Irish family history. Thanks to a book which the family has kept up-to-date, O’Brien was able to tap into that history to prepare for judging last Sunday.
“The fact that we have that written down is pretty cool,” O’Brien said.
O’Brien said she has noticed a declining interest in young women her age competing for Miss Shamrock, something she hopes will change in the coming cycles of the process given how much she has enjoyed the process so far.
Brooke McGlinchey
Almost everywhere she goes, people stop to ask Brooke McGlinchey if she is Irish. When those people hear her name, they find their assumptions were spot on.
The daughter of Ronald and Janelle McGlinchey, McGlinchey comes from a family that embraces their Irish heritage literally from the moment they wake up. Drawing from the time-honored tradition of a big Irish breakfast, McGlinchey’s family wakes up early in order to share a big meal together to start their day.
Although McGlinchey is active in multiple sports, a propensity she also draws from her Irish roots, she said she hasn’t typically been the most outgoing person, so vying for the title of Belle Plaine’s Miss Shamrock is a new experience for her.
"I’ve never done anything this outgoing before, and so far I’m really liking it."
McGlinchey is happy to share the experience with O’Brien and Cassandra Leeper as well as all of this year’s Irish lads.
“No matter what happens, I’m just happy I was able to do this, and I’m happy I was able to spend time with all of my friends,” McGlinchey said.
Cassandra Leeper
Cassandra Leeper hopes her experience representing her family as a Miss Shamrock candidate will inspire others in her school, as well as in Belle Plaine at large, to come together in solidarity to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
The daughter of Jeff Liebhard and Rebecca Leeper, Leeper said her family’s Irish heritage is a strong source of inspiration in her daily life. Leeper’s great-great-great grandfather fought and died in the Battles of New Ulm during the Sioux Uprising in 1862.
“He had hope in the New Ulm battle,” Leeper said. “I just get hope and feel happy when I think about it.”
Leeper moved to Belle Plaine from Le Sueur at a young age, and since then, the St. Patrick’s Day celebration has continued to leave a lasting impression on her.
Like her peers, Leeper encourages more young women to try out for Miss Shamrock next year, but she’s happy to represent her family alongside McGlinchey and O’Brien.
Irish Lads
Accompanying the 2020 Miss Shamrock candidates will be five Irish lads: Will Fahey, son of Tom and Jenny Fahey; Collin Fahey, son of Matt and Missy Fahey; Zac Fogarty, son of Matt and Melanie Fogarty; Lucas O'Brien, son of Lee and Tracy O'Brien; and Luke Fogarty, son of Emmet and Karen Fogarty.
Schedule of Events
• 12:00 p.m. Mass at Our Lady of the Prairie Catholic Church
• 1:00 p.m. Parade through downtown
• 1:30 p.m. Coronation and program downtown
• 2:00 p.m. Live Irish music, dancing, food, and drinks at the Vets’ Club
Guests can catch live Irish music at the Belle Plaine Vets' Club from 2-5 p.m., featuring Broken Spoke. This high-energy band never fails to deliver great music and fun and is presented by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Shamrock Division. Irish dancers from the Eilis Academy of Irish Dance will also be performing. Irish stew will be served all day.
Copyright 2020 Belle Plaine Herald/Southwest News Media/Media News Group.