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O’Reilly introduces the Russians to a St. Patrick’s Day Parade
by Bill Witcomb

It wasn’t all hockey for the Verdun Midget Leafs on their 1974 tour of the Soviet Union that took them to Moscow, Leningrad and Riga. There were some laughs and some eyebrow-raising incidents as well. Star Sports reporter Bill Witcomb, who accompanied the team, looks at a few of the more humorous incidents.

The Verdun Midget leafs’ recently completed tour of the Soviet Union had its touchy moments, but there were funny times as well. Times few people on the trip will ever forget.
Some of the laughs were halfhearted, more from frustration than anything else. Others came from the pit of the stomach and kept you laughing for hours. Picture for example a St Patrick’s Day Parade in Moscow.

To make the picture more complete, imagine a Central Red Army sports club officer near the front of the procession. While Montrealers slept last Sunday, Muscovites watched a parade that for once did not display the military strength of the Soviet Union.
As the camera crew from Radio Canada zoomed in on this historical occasion, Verdun alderman George O’Reilly marshaled the parade which showed spectators lining the steps of the Ukraina Hotel that a color other than red can be beautiful.
Dressed in green except for his large black top hat, O’Reilly led Verdun players, officials, Canadian delegates and traveling newsmen in the singing of McNamara’s Band.
Spectators stood on the steps scratching their heads, probably asking themselves what were those crazy Canadians doing.
Little did they realize Canadians weren’t the only ones participating. Behind O’Reilly came Lt. Colonel Bistoff of the Central Red Army Sports Club and chef de mission Brian McKeown. In their hands they carried a banner decorated with shamrocks and, of all the laughter, Lt. Colonel Bistoff’s was the loudest.
Decked out in their green Wrigley’s team uniforms, the Leafs walked behind. Coach Rollie Dagenais and trainer Gilles Leduc carried a large Canadian flag, followed by the players waving small Canadian flags.
"The best St Patrick’s Day Parade ever held in the Soviet Union" roared O’Reilly. "Isn’t green a nicer color than red?"
O’Reilly doesn’t plan on being in the Soviet Union for the next year’s St Patrick’s Day Parade, so he appointed a Russian interpreter travelling with the team to serve as marshall.
"Perhaps with one of their own people in charge they’ll be able to hold it in Red Square." Added O’Reilly. "You know I had to do some talking for them to give us permission to hold the parade. They thought it was a political rally or something. Can you imagine any politician taking part in a parade like that."

EDITORIAL NOTES
We are grateful to John Spracklin for bringing this story to our attention; he is married to Kerry Rose O'Reilly daughter of the late George O'Reilly. John also took great pains to key in the entire contents of the article when it was discovered that the newspaper clipping wouldn't scan clearly. He also shared some interesting points about George:

George was councillor of verdun at that time and went with the hockey team to represent the city of verdun in an official capacity. He was an active participant and member in everything Irish in Montreal from the time he was a youngster to the day he passed away. He was President of the United Irish Society of Montreal. He was voted Irishman of the year. He was also Grand Marshall of The Montreal Irish Parade. So, you can imagine that he was missing being home during that (particular) week (in 1974) The article tells the rest.

Image: Red Square - Photo by Helene Michaud