Three generations type on Ahorn trees during Saint Patrick's season

March 17, 2025 by Hudson Brooklyn

[gentle music] [birdsong] – Jennifer Richart: There is nothing better than being in the forest at this time of year.
Spring is there before it is somewhere else.
Something about it is simply conceivable.
The sun hits you just right.
And it's warm out here.
You are in the 10 hectares in which we make maple syrup.
So that we can knock trees, a lot of snow melts.
Moos begins to grow.
– Bridget Wenman: It's just an absolutely beautiful place to be in spring this season.
– Dave O'Brien: Well, we are here in O'Brien Maple Grove.
We grew up here.
Our grandparents settled here.
And most families in this area of the district are all rejected from Ireland.
[pipe band playing “Amazing Grace”] – Jennifer: The parade in New London is pretty amazing.
– Bridget: Every year you move to the city of New Dublin at Saint Patrick's Weekend New London.
You change all characters.
My parents were quite involved in this celebration.
– Reporter: I am here with Bob O'Brien, the commentator and color host for today's parade.
– Bridget: My father is derived from this parade for years.
– Bob O'Brien: And here is a few Irish farmers.
These Irish farmers are very, very good farmers, do you know that?
They spread a lot of fertilizers and that does it so well.
[co-emcee laughing] – Dave: My father knocked about 125 trees.
We would be 100 quarters a year.
And my father just did it as a hobby.
Now, for us children, it was an annoying duty.
– I was out here from five, six or seven years here, as well as my brothers and sisters.
I didn't like it.
[chuckling] – Charlie O'Brien: When I was four years old, sat on the tank and just there, while everyone else did the hard work and poured the buckets into the tractor.
[syrup splashing] – Bridget: We have three generations of people who come out and enjoy the property, some time to collect syrup.
– Dave: So my father died in 1988 and at that time my oldest brothers came closer to retirement.
And they really took it from there and it is expanded considerably.
They said: “We have more of ourselves that can help.
Let's tap 750 taps. “
And it really turned where we are today, which we built this beautiful, brand new SAP shed thanks to my brother.
And it went from a place that we gathered in spring to 12 months a year.
When more family members are involved, they invest their time, their children are committed and it really brings the family together.
– It was never about making money.
It was about making maple syrup for the family.
– and really work hard and play hard.
And we do that when we are out here.
[lively Irish folk music] – Dave: Saint Paddy's Day, but it's like a family reunion.
– Jennifer: Saint Paddy's weekend is really about getting home and it's all family.
And so the conversations are deeper.
You all know.
Even if there are 100 people, they still know everyone.
As soon as we enter the Sugar Hut in the meeting, I mean as soon as we are there, it is food and camaraderie.
– Betty: We thank you for the beauty of this environment.
The foresight of our ancestors who came to this country.
– Jennifer: Our family has many storytellers, and it took stories and put it on the walls.
– I chose this and my four stones are for my daughters.
I have four daughters.
[gentle harp music] – His whole purpose is to keep us together.
– I am sure that our family was as close as we were.
If we didn't have that, it would be weddings and funerals.
– Bridget: It's all about passing it on to the next generation and spending time together.
There is nothing better than that.
[gentle music] [birdsong]