61st Annual
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Sponsored By The Men and Women of the Rockland County Ancient Order of Hibernians
Sunday, March 23, 2025
At 1:30 PM
Pearl River, New York
In Memoriam
On this Saint Patrick’s Day, we remember our dedicated and faithful Hibernians who have gone to their Eternal Rest. We especially remember Philip Lane, Peter Dunne, Michael McNamara, Catherine “Kay” Hogan, Allan Ryff and Andrew Clark. May they all Rest In Peace.
Judges
Kenny Meyer, Terry Meyer (NYS LAOH Vice-President), Sean Murphy, James Russell and Tom Slattery
General Committee
Chairwoman Emeritus – Mary O’Sullivan
Parade Chairperson – William Lee
Formation Chairperson – Carmel Reilly
Treasurer – William Lee
Judges Chairperson – Lillian Murphy
Mass Chairperson – Jim Russell
Ball Chairperson – Mary Mulcahy
Secretary – Trish Lee
Awards Chairperson – Sean Walsh
Director of Transportation – Frank McDonagh
Breakfast Chairperson – Mary Mulcahy and Jim Russell
Parade Announcers – Neil O’Sullivan & Sean Walsh National Anthems – Maureen McNulty and Michael O’Sullivan
Other Committee Members
Bill Young, Jim McDonnell, Tim O’Neill, John Lowry, Helen Kilgallen Murphy, Jim Normoyle, Barry Tesseyman, Neil Cosgrove, Joan Moore, Tom Leavey, Cy Hughes, Dermot Moore, Linda Sheridan, Matt Reilly, Terry McGeever, Kathleen Murphy, John McGowan, Loretta Reidy, Jim Russell and Pat Withers
We must remember and support the people of Ireland and especially those individuals in the North of Ireland who strive on a daily basis for Peace, Justice and Unity.
Honor Battalion
Parade Commander: Police Officer Patrick Casey, Orangetown Police Department
Rockland County AOH Banner
Town of Haverstraw Police Honor Guard
Rockland County AOH Edward V. Larkin Memorial Pipe Band
Grand Marshal: John W. McGowan, AOH Div. #3
Colleen Gubala, LAOH County Board Bobby Fitzsimmons, AOH Div. #1
Lillian Murphy, LAOH Div. #2 Tommy Maiorano, AOH Div #3
Tara Hooker, LAOH Div. #3 Peter Barba, AOH Div. #4
Debbie Maguire, LAOH Div. #4 Martin Fogarty, AOH Div #5
Peter Lynch, Rockland Irish American Cultural Center
Michael Healy, Rockland Gaelic Athletic Association
Patrick Frawley, Rockland County Police Emerald Society
Greg Hatzis, Rockland County Shields
Matt Sheehy, Rockland County Police Benevolent Association
Kerry Pipers
Rockland County Parade Chairperson: William Lee
National AOH President: Sean Pender
National AOH Chief of Staff: Tim McSweeney
National AOH Catholic Action: James Russell
National AOH Political Education Chairman: Neil F. Cosgrove
National AOH Past President: Brendan Moore
NYS AOH Vice-President: Thomas Beirne
NYS AOH District 8 Director: Kevin Haugh
NYS AOH Freedom for All Ireland: Vince Tyer
NYS AOH Audit and Finance Chairman: Brian Kelly
NYS AOH Past President: Martin Kelly
NYS LAOH President: Regina Begley
NYS LAOH Freedom for All Ireland: Joan Moore
Rockland County AOH President: Dermot O. Moore
Rockland County LAOH President: Terry McGeever
Dean of Rockland County: Msgr. Emmett Nevin
Rockland County Hibernian of the Year: Charles Parnow
Rockland County Businesswomen of the Year: Bernadette Fitzgerald, Tara McDonald and Tina Murphy, The Gracie Rose
Aide to the Grand Marshal, New York City: John B. Kelly
Judiciary, Federal, State, County and Town Officials
Rockland County Police Emerald Society Pipes and Drums
Rockland County Police Emerald Society
Rockland County Sheriff’s Department Police Color Guard
Rockland County Sheriff’s Mounted Patrol
“There are no strangers here, only friends you haven’t met.”
W.B. Yeats
Korean War Veterans Association, Eagle Chapter
Color Guard and Members: American Legion Post 329
Rockland County Nurses Honor Guard
Color Guard and Members: American Legion Post 310
Color Guard and Members: Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 333
Port Authority Police Honor Guard
Port Authority Police Pipes and Drums
Rockland County Marine Corps League
American History Timeline
Daughters of the American Revolution
The 5th NY Re-enacting Regiment (Revolutionary War)
Bergen Irish Pipe Band
Jewish War Veterans of the USA
Veterans and Dignitaries in cars
Ramapo Police Honor Guard
Rockland County Firefighters Pipes and Drums
Pearl River Hook and Ladder
Rockland County FireFighters Emerald Society
Brewer Fire Engine Company No. 1
St. Raymond Academy Marching Band
Buddy Ball
ARC
Venture
First Battalion
Battalion Commander: Christopher Dodril, AOH Division #4, Suffern
Westwood Volunteer Fire Department Color Guard
Orange County NY AOH Pipes and Drums
AOH Members Division #4, Suffern
Rockland County Knights of Columbus
Right to Life, Inc.
Scoil Rince Riordan Irish Dance
Elevator Constructors Local 1 of NY/NJ Pipe Band
County Sligo S & B Association, Inc
Bergen County Battalion Five Firefighters
East Ramapo Marching Band
Haverstraw Youth Group
Second Battalion
Battalion Commander: Colleen Latimer, LAOH Division # 4, Suffern
Warwick Fire Department Color Guard
Police Pipes and Drums of Morris County, NJ
LAOH Division Members #2, #3 and #4
Saint Thomas Aquinas College
Rockland County Girl Scouts
Rockland County Sheriff’s Correction Division Honor Guard
Iona University Pipe Band
County Longford Association
Lynn Academy of Irish Dance
ZFIT Studio
St. John’s Academy of Hillsdale, NJ
Ireland Lacrosse
East Ramapo Alumni Marching Band
Third Battalion
Battalion Commander: Thomas Leavey, AOH Division #5, South Orangetown
FDNY Emerald Society Honor Guard
FDNY Emerald Society Pipes & Drums
FDNY Emerald Society
AOH Members, Division #5, South Orangetown
St. Gregory Barbarigo School, Garnerville
Rockland Irish American Cultural Center
Denogla Academy of Irish Dance
Clan Na Gael
Bobby Sands Memorial
Sword Light Pipe Band, IBEW Local 3
Rockland Gaelic Athletic Association
Fourth Battalion
Battalion Commander: Scott MacMaster, AOH Division #3, Pearl River
Paramus Police Department Honor Guard
Police Pipes and Drums of Bergen County
AOH Members Division #3, Pearl River
St. Margaret’s School, Pearl River
St. Margaret’s Parish and CCD, Pearl River
Inishfree School of Irish Dance
South Park and District Pipe Band
Rockland Cadet Squadron – Civil Air Patrol
Pearl River School of Irish Music
County Offaly Association
Con Edison Emerald Society
Manhattan University Pipes and Drums
Clarkstown Police Honor Guard
Clarkstown Police PBA
Pearl River Lions Club
American Red Cross
North Rockland High School “Red Raider” Marching Band
Fifth Battalion
Battalion Commander: Danny Fitzsimmons, AOH Division #1, North Rockland
NYPD Emerald Society Honor Guard
NYPD Emerald Society Pipes and Drums
AOH Division #1, North Rockland Members
Ridgewood School of Irish Dance
Ridgewood Irish Dance Booster Club
School of Rock Rockland
Rockland County Boy Scouts
Pipes and Drums of the Police Emerald Society of Westchester
Police Emerald Society of Westchester
Palisades Predators
Pelham Regional Pipe Band
Formation Committee
Orangetown Highway Department, James Dean, Superintendent of Highways
Trophy Donors
Timmy John O’Riordan Memorial (Donated by the Lee Family) – 1st Place Large Pipe Band
In Memory of Piper Billy Kenney (Donated by the RCAOH Pipe Band) – 1st Place Small Pipe Band
Connie and Breda O’Sullivan Memorial – Irish Cultures Organization
Munno’s Italian Deli – 2nd Place Large Pipe Band
John O’Hara Memorial (Donated by Murty’s Publick House) – 2nd Place Small Pipe Band
Thomas P. and Bridget Teahan Kilgallen Memorial (Donated by Helen and Michael Murphy) – 3rd Place Large Pipe Band
Joe McKiernan Memorial – 3rd Place Small Pipe Band
Neil O’Sullivan Honor Guard Memorial (Donated by the O’Sullivan Family) – Color/Honor Guard
Annie A. and James P. Russell Memorial – Elementary School
Thomas Argenti Memorial (Donated by the Fatigate Family) – Government Agency’s
Mary Franklin Memorial – High School Band
Pat Tully Memorial – Irish Counties
TF Noonan’s – Special Organizations
Society of Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick – Catholic Organization
Raymond W. Sheridan, Sr. Memorial – Irish School of Dance
Luigi O’Grady’s Deli and Catering – Veteran’s Org. Color Guard and Members
Acknowledgments
The AOH St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee expresses their sincere thanks
to the following groups and individuals who helped make this parade possible:
Hon. Edwin Day, County Executive
Hon. Teresa M. Kenny, Orangetown Supervisor and Orangetown Town Board
Orangetown Parks & Recreation – Aric Gorton
Orangetown Highway Department – James Dean
Use of their facilities: Pearl River Hook & Ladder Co. #1
Use of their parking lot: IRG Realty, Pearl River, NY (Originally California)
The Ambulance Corps of Orangetown
Rockland County Paramedics
Rockland County Highway Department
Rockland County Times
Rockland Journal News
The residents and local businesses of Rockland County and specifically Pearl River, who support our parade
Special Thanks to Chief Donald Butterworth and Command Staff, Lt. Thomas Holihan, Operations and OEM PO Christopher Connolly, New York State Police, New York State Park Police, New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Rockland County Sheriff’s Department, Rockland County Intelligence Center, Rockland County Office of Fire and Emergency Services, New York Police Department Counterterrorism Bureau, Metropolitan Police Authority, Clarkstown Police Department, Ramapo Police Department, Haverstraw Police Department, Stony Point Police Department, Piermont Police Department, Spring Valley Police Department and Suffern Police Department for their cooperation and assistance in the putting on of the Parade.
For Irish Events in and out of Rockland County, check out Rockland County AOH County Board, www.RocklandCountyAOH.com, LAOH County Board www.rclaoh.com, AOH Division 3, Pearl River www.praoh.org, AOH Division 4, Suffern www.suffernaoh.com
Parade Dedication 2025
As we gather for the 61st Rockland County St. Patrick’s Day Parade, we do so in remembrance of the 180th Anniversary of the Great Hunger in Ireland—a tragedy not of nature but of human injustice. It was a time when a nation was brought to its knees yet refused to surrender its soul. Out of that suffering, millions journeyed to America, carrying little but their faith, their resilience, and the hope of a better tomorrow. Though they arrived to hardship and prejudice, they labored, fought, and sacrificed to build not only new lives but a new nation.
We march today to celebrate the journey of Irish America—from those early immigrants who toiled in the streets and factories to the subsequent generations who have distinguished themselves in every field of endeavor.
Emblematic of that journey is this year’s Grand Marshal, John McGowan, a representative of a new generation of Irish Americans. His success as a respected attorney and former New York Assemblyman is a testament to the perseverance of the Irish and the promise of America: that those once oppressed now help shape the laws of the land.
May we walk today in the footsteps of those who came before us, and may we always march toward a future worthy of their sacrifice.
Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh
God Bless America
God Save Ireland
Neil F. Cosgrove, Irish American Heritage Month Committee Chair