Rockland County Ancient Order Of Hibernians

2008 Aide to the Grand Marshal New York City Jim McDonnell

On March 17, 1949 a young boy of seven years accompanied his older brother and sister to the St. Patrick�s Day Parade on Fifth Avenue. He wore a sash his mother sewed from three strips of ribbon and proudly marched up The Avenue behind the County Monaghan Banner. At 67th Street, he walked past his Dad who took time out from work to salute him, knowing that the seeds he implanted in his son for the love of his Irish heritage would now begin to grow to fruition.

Aide to the Grand Marshal New York City
Jim McDonnell It is in his parents' honor that Jim McDonnell proudly will represent Rockland County as the Aide to the Grand Marshall in the 2008 Parade. Jim was born in the South Bronx, the youngest of six children. He graduated from LaSalle Academy and went on to Iona College earning a Bachelor's Degree and then to St. John's University and Seton Hall University for a Master's Degree. In 1967 Jim married Ann Marie Quinn of Woodside, New York (Leitrim and Kildare heritage). They are the proud parents of three children: Brian (a Bank Vice President in Charlotte, N.C. and a Grade I piper), Kristin ((a 3rd grade teacher married to Brian Talty (County Clare) and mother of Kaleigh and Kieran)), and Timothy (National Sales Manager for A.C. Nielsen living in Chicago and recently engaged to Amber).

Jim spent 39 years in Education, 33 with the Northern Valley Regional District in Bergen County. The last 15 years of his career he was a District Administrator.

Jim joined A.O.H. Division Five in 1971. He transferred to Division One in l978. He has immersed himself in various activities of the A.O.H. He has worked on the Feis since it began in 1974, serving first on the stages, then as bartender at the beer tent, and for the last 20 years with the Pipe Band competition. He organized many A.O.H. concerts, the most notable being the Phil Coulter concert in Clarkstown South High School.

His good friend, the late Edward Larkin, wanted a County A.O.H. Pipe Band, and along with Ed, Jim became a founding member in charge of the Drum Corp. Next, through a friendship with good friends, the late Neil O'Sullivan and his wife Mary, Jim became involved in the Pearl River St. Patrick�s Day Parade. During the past 15 years, he has been a fixture on the corner of Crooked Hill Road and Middletown Road with his bullhorn welcoming the marchers. Through other good friends, Dan and Pat Barry, Jim has been the Master of Ceremonies for the Annual Emerald Ball for the past 17 years.

Jim has also been active in Division One, serving in various offices, up to and including President, and is presently its Historian.

Jim is very involved in his home town of Stony Point, being a member of the Zoning Board for 21 years and the Zoning Board Chairman for the past 7 years. He serves as Special Assistant to Supervisor Marino, and Vice President of Wayne Hose Fire Compant Benevolent Association. Jim is also an active volunteer at the Marian Shrine in Stony Point.