While it might be a sappy thought, the sweet syrup that comes from the O’Brien Family Maple Grove outside New London could be described as the lifeblood of an Irish American family.
“Its whole purpose is to keep us together,” says Dave O’Brien of both the old grove and the much newer sap shed. Along with housing the syruping operation, the shed serves as a dining and party space and the venue for the family’s annual table tennis tournament. The tourney and largest family gathering always takes place during St. Patrick’s Day Weekend.
“St. Paddy’s Day is really about coming home,” says Jennifer Richart (née O’Brien) who sits in the middle of three generations that gather in the grove. It’s not only the O’Briens who make a big deal out of St. Patrick’s Day. Nearby New London boasts one of the state’s largest celebrations.
“Every year at St Patrick’s weekend, they change New London to the city of New Dublin. They change all the signs,” says Bridget Wenman. Her father Bob O’Brien served as parade emcee for years during the annual celebration. He also established syruping as a family tradition. And for some, not necessarily a happy one at the time.
“My dad just did it as a hobby,” says Dave O’Brien. “Now, for his kids, it was a chore.” Chore or no, over one hundred O’Brien relations show up each year to tap and boil sap, then go home with gallons of the golden elixir to share with neighbors.
“It was never about making money,” says Wenman. “It’s all about passing it to the next generation and spending time together. There’s nothing better than that.”
