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Ceol Mor August 3, 2019 Schedule of Events
Below is the schedule of events for the Ceol Mor Bagpipe and Music Festival . Not that the event is “Rain or Shine”. Please note that the schedule is subject to minor adjustments depending on the pace of competitions.
8:30 – Am Solo Piping and Drumming Competitions. Breakfast is available for purchase at the pavilion
12:00 Noon – Performance by the Pearl River School of Irish Music and the Parade of Pipe Bands to be followed by Band competitions.
4:00 PM – Performance of the Massed Bands to be followed by a concert by the Ninemile House Band
Again the location is 160 Old Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg NY. Adults $15.00, Children under 12 free
Win a Trip to Any City where JetBlue Flies
Two round trip tickets to any jet blue destination only $20 per ticket! Drawing at the Ceol MĂłr bagpipe festival Saturday, August 3rd at the RGAA fields, Orangeburg, NY
Tickets available at the Hibernian house in pearl river or by email: praoh3@gmail.com
2019 Rockland County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshal Joan Moore
Joan was raised in the Woodlawn section of the Bronx, one of seven children born to William J (Cork) and Mary Virginia Burns Sweeney (Galway). She attended St. Barnabas Grammar School, Our Lady of Victory Academy, and Bronx Community College, where she earned her Associate of Science Degree in Nursing. She went on to Lehman College where she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing while working at Misericordia Hospital. Joan met the love of her life, Dermot Moore, in 1978, and they were married in 1983. They have 4 wonderful children and two daughters-in-law: Thomas Ashe (Colleen), Terence MacSweeney, Conor Naughton (Donna), and Margaret O’Rourke. Joan has also recently become a proud grandmother to Cormac McConnell, Charles Holt and Rose Mary.
Joan and Dermot moved from Woodlawn to Pearl River in 1984 and became active members of St. Margaret’s Church. Joan was instrumental in starting “Moments for Moms” for new families that had just moved to the area to meet people. As her children entered the school system, she became active in the PTA, holding many of the positions up to Vice President. She was a Cub Scout “Den” mother and a Girl Scout Leader for several years. Joan joined the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians in 2004 and again became a very active member of the group, serving in positions up to and including both Division and County President for several years, and she continues to be an integral part of these organizations. Joan also shares her time with the GAA by supporting many of their functions, including coordinating the Mass at the opening of the field. All of her children played Gaelic Football, and she traveled with several teams to Ireland.
Joan worked as a nurse for Clarkstown Pediatrics for 25 years, eventually assuming the position of Head Nurse. She has also been a substitute Nurse at various schools in Rockland. In 2013, she became involved with the Lourdes Kids of Rockland as a Nurse Coordinator, helping to recruit volunteer nurses to travel with children with special needs to Lourdes, France. She also recently had the privilege of traveling with the group, a life-changing experience.
Joan is honored to have been elected as Grand Marshal of the Rockland Parade as she has been a member of the Parade committees herself for many years. Joan was the Journal Chair for the Emerald Ball and is always willing to help wherever needed to ensure the success of an event. Joan comes from a family of strong Irish women. She takes after her mother, who taught her to always help your family, friends, and community as much as possible and just a year ago danced with her to the Stack of Barley for her 100th birthday. Joan’s mother-in-law, Mary Holt Moore, was only the second women to lead the St. Patrick’s Day parade down Fifth Avenue and taught everyone around her to carry on the traditions of Irish America. Since she appreciates the important role that women have played in the history of Ireland and Irish America, Joan Sweeney Moore is extremely honored to lead the Parade this year in particular, as we celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the founding of the LAOH in America.
2019 Parade Commander Cpl. Megan Leavey USMC
MEGAN LEAVEY grew up in Valley Cottage, New York. After September 11, 2001, she decided to leave college and join the United States Marine Corps. Corporal Leavey graduated from boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina and from there completed about a year of training, which included Marine Combat training, Military Police school, and K9 school. Corporal Leavey was stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA from 2004-2007 with the Military Police K9 section. Eventually, she was partnered with a Military Working Dog named Rex. Cpl. Leavey & Rex completed two tours in Iraq, beginning with Fallujah in 2005 and then Ramadi in 2006. Towards the end of their second tour, the duo was wounded in the line of duty. Insurgents watching from a rooftop detonated an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) as they watched Cpl. Leavey and Rex in front of a patrol sweeping the area.
Cpl. Leavey & Rex
With a full year left to her enlistment in the Marine Corps, Cpl. Leavey completed physical therapy along with Rex and helped train fellow dog handlers preparing for their future deployments. Cpl. Leavey was discharged in December 2007. Unfortunately, she could not take Rex back home with her. Rex was unable to deploy anymore but was still able to work stateside at Camp Pendleton. Over the course of the next few years, Rex was assigned to 11 different handlers, each for short periods of time. Rex was deemed “not adoptable” in his medical records, so toward the end of Rex’s service, it was unclear what his future would be. With a tip from a former colleague and the help of Jerry Donnellan, her local Veterans Adviser, Cpl. Leavey campaigned to adopt Rex, which caught the attention of the media and, eventually, Senator Chuck Schumer. Although, military dogs are not generally candidates for adoption, Rex was granted his retirement and entrusted to Leavey on April 6, 2012. Megan & Rex’s story caught the eye of Yankees President Randy Levine & his wife Mindy in the media. As huge animal lovers & military supporters, they graciously offered to fund all expenses to fly Rex from California to NY & any medical expenses he needed. They also held a ceremony celebrating the reunion on the field at Yankees Stadium. Leavey and Rex were able to spend the last eight months of his life together at her home in New York. Rex was able to sleep on the bed, run free with Cpl. Leavey’s other dog Patriot, swim in a pool and bark at deer. Rex passed away on December 22, 2012 with Cpl. Leavey at his side. A movie titled “Megan Leavey” was made and released in June of 2017 based on this true story. After the Marine Corps, Megan continued to work as a K9 handler in New York City with another explosive detection dog, a chocolate lab named Patriot. Patriot was retired in 2015, and lived a great life at home with Megan up until she passed away suddenly this past September. Megan also has two cats, Orange and Cali.
Cpl. Megan Leavey’s love for animals has since kept her in similar fields, working as a Veterinary Technician in New Jersey and as a Brand Ambassador for Royal Canin. Her love and dedication to animals has not gone unnoticed. There is a Congers dog park dedicated to Cpl. Leavey and Sgt. Rex, as well as to the K-9 working dogs of the Clarkstown Police Department. Megan also is a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 120. She was a board member and part of the committee charged with building a Monument in Haverstraw Bay Park that is dedicated to those from the Hudson Valley Area who lost their lives in the War Against Terror. You can also find a statue of Cpl. Leavey and her faithful dog Rex there.