Parade Honorees

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.

Heather L Bowie was born at Pease Airforce base in Portsmouth, New Hampshire where her mother Denise was serving in the Navy.  Shortly thereafter, Denise & Heather relocated to Rockland County to be closer to family where Denise would then re-enlist in the Army.  Heather’s parents, Michael & Denise Kennedy were married in 1989.  The Kennedy lineage stems from County Longford and the Bowie Lineage stems from Glasgow Scotland.  Growing up in Rockland allowed Heather to become an accomplished equestrian from a young age, although she is much more of a struggling golfer these days. Heather is sister to Daniel Vincent Kennedy,  Michael Donohue Kennedy, Cloee Kennedy and Hugh Bowie IV.

Heather and her family were lucky to spend their Summer’s on the Outer Banks of North Carolina at their beach house, thanks to the overall hard work and success of her father- Michael Kennedy- an Insurance Agent in Suffern, NY for over 40 years.  Heather was a member of Nags Head Ocean Rescue- during one of the most active rescue seasons in recent history- and has numerous unassisted rescues under her belt- or, rather under her Buoy- during seriously strong surf.  In fact, Heather was on CNN for pulling in an entire family caught in a rip current in Nags Head, N.C!

Heather graduated from Pace University with a Bachelors in Art History, where she was awarded the Excellence in Art History Award at the commencement ceremony at Radio City Music Hall.  After graduating college, Heather left New York City and returned to Rockland County.  Heather became licensed in 2001- selling both Property & Casualty and Life, Accident & Health policies.  She opened her own Agency in Suffern in April of 2015, with same values she was taught in her fathers’ office.  Every client is treated as though they were family, with superior customer service being in her mission statement.  Since 2015 she has achieved all the corporate benchmarks, but more importantly has very happy clients.  In 2018 Heather’s agency placed in the top ten of out of 290 plus agents for new business production.  And, in the top 2% out of 11,000 agents for overall customer satisfaction- a bench mark that she is truly proud of.

In celebration of her first anniversary in Business she teamed up with Operation Deploy Your Dress- an organization that collects slightly used formal wear for military spouses- so they can attend Barracks Balls, Holiday celebrations -or even Prom gowns for the daughters.  Essentially anyone with a Military issued ID can enter the ODYD “shops” and take a dress for an event.  Year to day, Heather has collected and shipped over 300 formal dresses to Operation Deploy your dress.  She continues to do so to support the spouses that are also serving.

Heather joined the Suffern LAOH, “Tir Na Nog” in 2011- when the group was forming.  She cherishes the friendships, comradery and altruistic values of the group.  She also sits on the Bon Secours Foundation Board and enjoys the charity work accomplished there.   She is delighted, humbled and honored to be named Business Person of the Year in 2019.

Dan was born in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx to Michael and Kathryn Donohue. His father was a Transit Police Officer, and his mother was an Executive Assistant. After moving to Yonkers, he attended St. Paul’s on McLean Ave. His parents moved him and his two siblings, Elizabeth and Tommy, to Rockland County (Nanuet) in the 1970s, where he was enrolled at St. Anthony’s Elementary School. He attended Clarkstown South High School and Rockland Community College before earning a B.S. in Marketing and an M.B.A in Business Management from St. Thomas Aquinas College.

Dan currently resides in New City with his wife, Ann, and his daughter, Shannon. While most of his family is here in Rockland County, his heritage is entirely from Ireland. His paternal grandparents were from Counties Offaly and Mayo. His mother’s family can be traced back to Ballingarry, Limerick in the 1700s. They arrived in the USA in 1861.

Professionally, Dan has spent many years building successful businesses with his sales and marketing expertise. He spent twenty-three successful years in the office equipment industry working with startups, family businesses, and multi-billion-dollar companies. He is currently Director of Sales and Marketing at Craftmaster Hardware, which provides security hardware for hospitals, colleges, K-12 schools, government agencies, and detention facilities throughout the U.S.

Growing up here in Rockland, Dan and his family were regular attendees at the annual Feis and St. Patrick’s Day parades. He has marched in or attended the Pearl River St. Patrick’s Day parade, which is the second largest in the state after the New York City parade, almost every year. He is also a long-time parishioner at St. Anthony’s Church in Nanuet.

He joined the Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 2 in New City in 2010 shortly before it disbanded. Subsequently, he joined Division 1 in North Rockland. He has served as Vice President and President for Division 1 over the last 7 years. Dan is active in the North Rockland Irish community and the County, participating in and leading many events promoting Irish culture, such Communion Breakfasts, the NYS Veterans Home St. Patrick’s Day party, 9/11 masses at Marian Shrine, local government events, and annual scholarship programs.

Dan is proud to be part of the A.O.H. and looks forward to projecting the dignity, honor, contributions, and spirit of the Irish People in Rockland County and throughout the world as Aide to the Grand Marshal of the 2019 New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade.