A6
COMMUNITY
East Oregonian
Tuesday, March 8, 2022
Heppner prepares to roll out the green carpet
By TAMMY
MALGESINI
East Oregonian
HEPPNER — The Wee
Bit o’ Ireland celebration
returns after a two-year
hiatus for bookend week-
ends, March 11-13 and 18-19,
including a full day of food,
fun and family-friendly
activities on Saturday,
March 12.
“We have several benefi t
breakfasts, an Irish dinner,
four food vendors and all
our restaurants will be open.
Everyone loves to eat,” said
JoAnna Lamb, Heppner
Chamber of Commerce’s
executive director. “We have
lots of music, and the Great
Green Parade is on and grow-
ing.”
The Welly Toss is among
the unique activities during
the event. After a trip to
Ireland more than a decade
ago, Heppner residents John
and Ann Murray suggested
adding the traditional Irish
game to the festivities in
Heppner.
The concept is simple toss
a Wellington boot three times
and total the distance of the
throws that land in-bounds.
The event features both indi-
vidual and team contests for
both children and adults.
In addition to the Welly
Toss, which starts Saturday,
East Oregonian, File
The March’n Mommas compete in the bed race on March 18, 2017, at Heppner’s Wee Bit o’ Ireland celebration. The 2022 fes-
tival kicks off Friday through Sunday, March 11-13, with multiple contests, entertainment and family activities on March 12.
March 12, at 10 a.m., people
can watch or participate in a
variety of contests and fund-
raising activities. Events
include Ewe-Do Bingo, the
O’Ducky Race, the Heppner
St. Patrick’s Day Remem-
brance Walk and 5K Run,
the St. Pat’s Polar Plunge,
the Leprechaun Run and bed
races.
You won’t want to miss a
chance for plenty o’ laughs
during the O’Planky Team
Relay Race. The contest pits
teams of four against others
as they attempt to synchro-
nize themselves walking
down the street on a 10-foot
plank with leather stirrups.
Also, the Cruz-In Car Show
returns for its 20th year. And
the Great Green Parade gets
rolling at 1 p.m.
Also, the Heppner Elks
Lodge turns into Irish
Central with the Irish Coff ee
Hour beginning at 10 a.m.
Host Tom Melton will trade
barbs and blarney with
special guests. It includes an
Irish Brogue Contest with
cash prizes. The afternoon
Ceili features Whiskey for
Breakfast from 2-4 p.m. and
a traditional Irish buff et is in
the evening.
“We aren’t actually having
whiskey for breakfast but
we don’t judge,” Lamb said.
“They are a musical group
out of Pendleton.”
Free evening entertain-
ment includes a local talent
show (6 p.m., Gilliam &
Bisbee Building), the Blue
Mountain Old-Time Fiddlers
(6:30 p.m., Morrow County
Fairgrounds) and the Gothard
Sisters (7:30-9:30 p.m.,
Gilliam & Bisbee).
For a full schedule of
events for both weekends,
visit www.heppnerchamber.
com. If you have questions,
call 541-676-5536 or email
heppnerchamber@gmail.
com.
St. William Catholic Church/Contributed Photos
Prior to the pandemic shutdowns, “The Little Way of Saint Therese” was performed March 8, 2020, at St. William Catholic Church, Ione. The fi nal play written by the late Father Gerry Condon
will be staged Friday, March 11, 2022, starting at 7 p.m. at the Gilliam & Bisbee Building, Heppner.
Priest’s last play takes to the stage in Heppner
By TAMMY
MALGESINI
East Oregonian
HEPPNER — Coinciding
with the Wee Bit o’ Ireland
celebration, a play writ-
ten by the late Father Gerry
Condon will be performed in
Heppner.
“The Little Way of Saint
Therese” will be staged
Friday, March 11, 7 p.m. at
the Gilliam & Bisbee Build-
ing, 106 E. May St., Heppner.
The St. Patrick Catholic
Church Altar Society will
provide desserts. Admission
is free, however, donations
are gladly accepted.
“Ever yone is really
excited about the play,”
JoAnna Lamb said. “People
were disappointed it had
to be canceled, especially
knowing it was Father
Condon’s last one.”
A number of years ago,
Condon, who died March 7,
2020, at the age of 92, began
writing dramas. His goal
was to provide historical
information about the church
and saints.
St a g i n g t h e pl ay s
became an annual tradi-
tion during the week lead-
ing up to the town’s annual
St. Patrick’s celebration.
Lamb, the Heppner Cham-
ber of Commerce executive
director, said the play was
performed in Ione in 2020,
just a day after the beloved
priest’s death. However,
pa ndem ic re st r ict ion s
prevented its curtain call in
Heppner.
The play is based on
the life of Therese Martin,
who was born in 1873. The
youngest of nine children,
Martin desired to follow in
the footsteps of several of her
sisters to enter the convent.
Finally allowed at the age of
15, the young nun only lived
to age 24, dying of tuber-
culosis. Her autobiography,
“The Story of a Soul,” was
published soon after her
death.
Condon, who was born
and raised in Dublin,
Ireland, came to the United
States at the age of 28.
Answering a call with the
Diocese of Baker, he served
several years in Lakev-
iew before a short stint
in Heppner when he first
arrived. Condon pastored
many churches in Eastern
Oregon before returning
to south Morrow County
permanently in 1990.
Retiring in 2013, Condon
served 57 years in the priest-
hood, including his last
22 years at Heppner and
Ione. Always quick with a
quip and a caring attitude,
Condon was recognized as
Man of the Year during the
2008 Heppner Chamber of
Commerce’s Town & Coun-
try Awards Banquet.
For more information
about the performance, call
the chamber at 541-676-5536.
IT’S IN YOUR INBOX
before your mailbox
Subscribers can receive
daily email updates and
uninterrupted digital
delivery on a computer,
tablet and smartphone
Sign up for free digital access
Call 800-781-3214
EastOregonian.com