Aides announced for Limerick grand marshall of New York City St Patrick's Day parade
Aides are chosen in recognition of their "outstanding service" to the Irish American community of New York
SEVENTEEN Irish-Americans have been announced as aides to the grand marshal, Limerick native Mike Benn, for the 2025 New York City St Patrick's Day Parade.
Aides to the grand marshal are chosen annually by the parade’s participating organizations in recognition of their "outstanding service" to the Irish American community of New York.
The selection of an aide is acknowledgement of years of "unselfish, dedicated, and distinguished service to the New York and Irish communities and for their contribution to Irish faith, culture and heritage".
“The Board of Directors thanks the affiliate organizations for selecting such a wonderful dedicated and distinguished group of Irish Americans,” said parade chairman Sean Lane. “They will join our Grand Marshal, Mike Benn, who will lead the parade past St. Patrick’s Cathedral and up Fifth Avenue on Monday, March 17, 2025.”
“We have an unbelievable selection of Aides to the Grand Marshal this year. They are representative of the community and what the parade stands for, which is a celebration of Irish faith, culture and heritage” said Hilary Beirne as he introduced the aides at the parade delegate’s meeting on Thursday, December 12.
“This year we have two priests, a member of the NYPD, a retired Chief from the Fire Department, a former New York State commissioner, and a President of a 155 thousand strong.”
Michael Benn, the grand marshall of this spring's parade, was born in Limerick city in 1948, where he attended the Christian Brothers School before emigrating to the United States in 1962.
He completed his second level education at Cardinal Hayes high school in the Bronx, NYC before attending and graduating from Mercy College with a degree in accounting. Michael then served as a Sergeant in the US Army from 1969 through 1972.
Michael and his wife Christina, who is also from Limerick City, met in the Bronx and have been happily married for 53 years.
They have built a life with their family in Rockaway Beach, NY, and have six children, Michael, Richard, William, Brendan, Patrick and Tara, along with their 11 grandchildren, Michael, Oliver, Shayla, Brendan, Ryan, Heidi, Madison, Richard, Teagan, and Mackenzie Cassidy, and five daughters in laws: Kimberly, Helena, Martina, Valerie, and Kristen.
They have raised their family to "be proud of their Irish roots, to embrace their Catholic upbringing, and celebrate their Irish culture".
Michael is the president and chairman of Queens County St Patrick's Day Parade in Rockaway Beach, the 2nd largest St Patrick's Day parade in New York.
He works "effortlessly" on organizing the parade year-round to ensure strong Irish leaders are recognized and celebrated.
Michael has always had close ties in the Irish community and is very involved in celebrating Irish culture, producing and directing Au Súil Na Gael (In the Eyes of the Irish), a television show that promotes Irish culture and heritage.
He was honoured by the New York City Council on three separate occasions and received the Tom Manton award. Michael also received the Irish Ministry Shining Star, was the Chief Brehon of Coney Island's Great Irish Fair, and Queens County AOH man of the year.
Mike Benn and his aides will lead the approximate 200,000 marchers up Fifth Avenue in the 264th New York City’s St Patrick’s Day Parade on March 17, 2025.
The aides to the grand marshal for the 2025 St Patrick’s Day Parade are: Grand Council of United Emerald Societies aide: John Samuelson, Orange County aide: Kevin M Stromer, United Irish Counties aide: Regina O’Dwyer, Rockland County aide: John B. Kelly, Knights of St Patrick aide: Joseph Michael Murphy Jr, Bronx County aide: Fr Brendan Fitzgerld, Suffolk County aide: Gerard (Jerry) Joseph Belmont, Queens County aide: William (Bill) Gerard Corrigan, Nassau County aide: Marian Cronin, Westchester County aide: Cathal M. McGreal, aide at large: Betty McLoughlin, NYPD aide: Kevin Murphy, FDNY aide: Chief Thomas Reilly, New York County aide: James B Ferguson Jr Esq, Archdiocese of New York aide: Fr Ryan Muldoon, Richmond County aide: Warren Coffey, Kings County aide: Daniel Chiarantano.