By Paddy McCarthy
While I was Out&About this week I had the great honor to be invited to the American Irish Historical Society on Fifth Avenue for the official installation of the New York St Patrick’s Day Parade’s 2025 Grand Marshal Michael Benn. The new Grand Marshal will lead the 264th New York Saint Patrick’s Day Parade on March 17th, 2025 on Fifth Avenue.
If there was ever a man who deserved this honor to be the New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Grand Marshal it is Michael Benn. I can tell you that the who’s who of the Irish community were at this event and it was so nice to catch up with quite a lot of the guests, many of which I had not seen for a very long time.
Michael was introduced by Parade Chairman Sean Lane and Hilary Beirne of the New York City’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. Michael produces and directs Au Suil Na Gael “In the Eyes of the Irish,” a television show that promotes Irish culture and heritage and succeeds Maggie Timoney who made us all very proud as the 2024 Grand Marshal.
Michael is a proud son of Limerick, and the longtime chairman of the Queens County St. Patrick’s Parade Committee in the Rockaways. In 2013, just months after the devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy, he and his committee held a St Patrick’s Day Parade, an event credited with boosting morale and helping the Rockaway community come together after the loss of live and property during the storm. Michael was one of the communities’ leaders credited in helping the Rockaways rebuild following the devastation.
A very proud union man having been a member of Local 30 International Union of Operating Engineers and Local 608 Carpenters Union, his dedication to the Rockaway community, Limerick, his faith and his Irish traditions is an inspiration to all.
Sean Lane said “We were truly delighted that Michael Benn has been chosen unanimously to lead us on March 17, 2025. Like all the hard-working Irish emigrants that came before him, he is a shining example of what hard work and determination can achieve in this great country. We know Michael’s selection as Grand Marshal is a popular one with the community in which he has served proudly since emigrating from Ireland to the United States. He is an outstanding leader in the Irish American community, particularly in the Rockaway area in Queens, and we will be proud to march behind him in the 264th NYC St Patrick’s Day Parade.”
Michael Benn was born in Limerick City, Ireland in 1948, where he attended the Christian Brothers School before emigrating to the United States in 1962. Michael completed his second level education at Cardinal Hayes high school in the Bronx, NYC before attending and graduating from Mercy College with a degree in accounting. Michael then served as a Sergeant in the US Army from 1969 through 1972.
Michael and his wife Christina who is also from Limerick City, met in the Bronx, and they have been happily married for 53 years. They have built a life with their family in Rockaway Beach, NY, and have six children; Michael, Richard, William, Brendan, Patrick and Tara. They also have 11 grandchildren: Michael, Oliver, Shayla, Brendan, Ryan, Heidi, Madison, Richard, Teagan, and Mackenzie Cassidy, as well as five daughters in laws: Kimberly, Helena, Martina, Valerie, and Kristen. They have raised their family to be proud of their Irish roots, to embrace their Catholic up bringing, and celebrate their Irish culture.
Michael is the President and Chairman of Queens County St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Rockaway Beach, the 2nd largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York. He works effortlessly on organizing the parade year-round to ensure strong Irish leaders are recognized and celebrated.
Michael has always had close ties in the Irish community and is very involved in celebrating Irish culture. He produces and directs Au Suil Na Gael television show that promotes Irish culture and heritage.
He retired from the Construction Industry after spending time in two strong unions: Local 30 International Union of Operating Engineers and Local 608 Carpenters Union. He was honored by the New York City Council on three separate occasions and received the Tom Manton Award.
Michael also received the Irish Ministry Shining Star, was the Chief Brehon of Coney Island’s Great Irish Fair, and Queens County AOH Man of the Year. Michael is a proud son of Limerick and his love for all things Irish holds no bounds.
The New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade marches in honor of St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland and of the Archdiocese of New York. The Parade is held every March 17th (except when March 17th falls on a Sunday, when it is moved to Saturday March 16th because of religious observance).
The Parade starts at 11 am and begins at 44th Street and proceeds up Fifth Avenue to 79th Street in Manhattan. The New York City St Patrick’s Parade marched for the first time in 1762, fourteen Years before the Declaration of Independence was signed in Independence Hall, Philadelphia. The Parade is regarded as the most popular of the all the Parades in New York City.
The New York Parade consists only of marchers and each year hosts some 250,000 marchers and two million spectators. The Parade has many outstanding marching bands, bagpipers in marching formations, high-school, and college bands from throughout the United States and from all over the world.
The occasion is televised live to millions of households nationwide for four hours by host station WNBC Channel Four. The broadcast is webcast live via the internet through the Parade’s web site at NYCStPatricksParade.Org and WNBC Channel Four web site at www.wnbc.com and a host of other digital platforms.
This notice came to me from Jack O’Brien, Past President, Ancient Order of Hibernians for my Out&About that I am sure it will interest quite a lot of our readers: A solemn memorial ceremony will be held at 11 am on October 19 honoring 215, primarily Irish immigrants, the victims who lost their lives in two shipwrecks off the south shore of Hempstead in the winter of 1836. The event will take place at the Bristol and Mexico Monument that marks the mass grave of 139 of these victims. The shipwrecks of the Bristol and Mexico occurred within sight of the shore. They serve as a poignant reminder of the perils faced by immigrants seeking a new life. The Monument stands as a testament for the victims.
The organizers said: “We gather not only to remember the lives lost but to acknowledge the collective efforts of our community to help ensure the memory and stories are not forgotten.”
The hour-long ceremony will include remarks from local community leaders, speaking of those affected by the shipwrecks. Attendees will have the opportunity for questions, and to pay their respects, reflect on the historical significance of this site. For more information about ships, or to learn more about the historical significance of the Bristol and Mexico Monument, contact Jack O’Brien by email at aoh11@live.com.
I also just got the news hot off the press that Denis Mulcahy was just selected to be the Grand Marshal for the Yonkers St. Patrick’s Day Parade. It is a parade that he has always admired, the people’s parade and Denis has always attended and has marched with the County Cork Association for the last two years. I would like to be the first to announce this news in this week’s Out&About in The Irish Examiner USA and say congratulations Denis, it is very well deserved.
That’s it for this week, I hope to see you all again next week when I am Out&About again…