Yesterday evening at the recently reopened American Irish Historical Society building on Fifth Avenue, Sean Lane, Chairman of The New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade introduced Maggie Timoney as the Grand Marshal of the 263rd New York City St Patrick’s Day Parade.
Maggie Timoney from Ballina, Co Mayo will make history when she leads the 2024 Parade, as one of only five females in the Parade’s 262-years to lead what is the world’s largest and oldest St Patrick’s Day Parade.
Maggie Timoney is the first female President & CEO of HEINEKEN USA based in White Plains, New York. Maggie is an alumnus of Iona University in New Rochelle, New York where she played basketball and earned two degrees. Throughout her career, Maggie blazed a trail in the traditionally male-dominated beer industry, and today, Maggie is the first woman to serve as chief executive of a major beer company in the United States.
“I had a tear in my eye tonight thinking about my parents, Una and Seamus, who are gone. They never would have thought I would one day lead the St Patrick’s Day Parade in New York.” Grand Marshal Timoney said. “I joked that with Maureen O’Hara, and I am in really, really good company – I know there have only been five females in total in the last 262 years and I hope that this is the start of the trend”.
Sean Lane, Chairman of the Parade Board, said “We were truly delighted that Maggie Timoney has been chosen unanimously to lead us on March 16. Like all the hard-working Irish emigrants that came before her, she is a shining example of what hard work and determination can achieve in this great country. We know that Maggie’s selection as Grand Marshal is a popular one.”
“We as a community are proud of Maggie Timoney, she is an outstanding leader in her chosen field and we will be proud to march behind her in the greatest Parade in the world, in the greatest city in the world, New York City,”, said Hilary Beirne CAO of the Parade.
Among those present were former Grand Marshals Loretta Brennan Glucksman, Tommy Smyth, Kevin Conway, John Tully Chairman of the Knights of St Patrick, the New York Consul General of Ireland Helena Nolan, Roisin Wiley the 2023 Rose of Tralee from Eastchester New York, Kiera O’Connor the New York Mary from Dungloe as well as other well-known New York dignitaries.
The 263rd NYC St Patrick’s Parade which will be held on Fifth Avenue, Saturday March 16, 2024, commencing at 11am