NEW YORK, N.Y. — Music, dance, and dignitaries began St. Patrick’s Day for Brian Jordan and Michael Harlan who attended two celebratory events last Saturday morning.
They participated in festive breakfasts on March 17; the first was a “celebrating our city” program at Gracie Mansion hosted by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg which was followed by a breakfast at the Waldorf Astoria hosted by the Ireland Chamber of Commerce in the USA, Inc.
Both events included many dignitaries, according to Michael, who said he attended to support Brian and to “give thanks for the gift of Irish culture and my own heritage.”
“I was overwhelmed by the cross-section of people that Brian knows in the city and beyond,” Michael said. Brian gave the invocation at the ICCUSA event.
The ICCUSA, based in New Providence, N.J., was formed 18 years ago as a way to “open the doors for United States companies in Ireland,” according to the event’s program.
Among the guests at Gracie Mansion were former New York mayors Ed Koch and David Dinkens; Ireland’s minister of Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan; and Tim O’Connor, the Consul General of Ireland. Irish music was performed by the Chieftains.
At the Waldorf event, the two friars met government officials including Governor Elliott Spitzer, Lieutenant Governor David Paterson, and former Governor George Pataki.
In New Jersey, Jeremiah McGinley served as master of ceremonies at the 18th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade at St. Anne’s parish in Fair Lawn, which until 2005 was staffed by Holy Name Province.
The event was originally scheduled for March 16 but wet weather and the closing of St. Anne’s School forced the postponement of the parade to March 22.
Dauntless and determined can aptly describe the Irish makeup, according to Jeremiah, who is shown in the center of the top row in the photo. Despite the postponement of the parade, a “good crowd was on hand, including town dignitaries on the viewing stand,” Jeremiah said.
Fr. Joseph Doyle, pastor of St. Anne’s, invited Jeremiah to serve as the master of ceremonies. It was the 18th time that Jeremiah had filled this role.
“I’m like the flu; I keep coming back,” Jeremiah said.
Eighth-grade teacher Tim Flynn was the parade’s grand marshal, and Kevin Guy, an eighth-grade student, played St. Patrick.
“All in all, a grand time had by all,” Jeremiah said, adding that Octavio Duran photographed the event.