By Paddy McCarthy
I hope everyone had a nice Labor Day weekend as the weather held up so that was a really good part of it. I didn’t hit the beaches like I am sure a lot of people with families did. I did go for a swim though in the local swimming pool where I live, and surprisingly it was quiet as again, most headed to the beach with bucks and shovels to make their sand castles, just kidding, though on second thoughts. maybe that’s what they all did, relaxing in the sunshine, looking out at the water under the umbrellas; they might have done that.
Now following all that I am sure that the barbecues were ready to be fired up for all that delicious food that was put on the stove for family and friends to have a nice time relaxing, eating and having a few drinks as well I presume.
Once again, Nassau County Feis & Festival Corp. wil host the 52nd Annual Feis & Festival honoring Betty McLoughlin on September 15th at Nickerson Beach on Sunday, September 15 (880 Lido Blvd, Lido Beach).
Mike Byrne, Nassau County Feis Chairman emailed to say: “We need the help of all Hibernians in Nassau County, men and women, both physically and financially. We need more help than ever !
“We need your help to continue promoting our Irish heritage and culture on Long Island. It is a big undertaking to run an outdoor event like this; fabricating stages, supplying and erecting tents, etc.
Here are a few ways you can help:
- By taking an ad. You do not have to own a business to take an ad. Personal ads are more than welcome.
- Please consider taking an ad in our journal. Betty McLoughlin Please show your support for
- We are also in need of stage sponsors. It costs a lot of money to maintain our stages. Last time we had the feis, we covered all four of our stages. This year, due to new regulations, we will need at least two more stages. To purchase the tents alone cost in excess of $15,000.
- Donations – Any donations no matter how small would be greatly appreciated. We are an IRS 501 (C3) Corporation.
- Get involved- It takes a lot of manpower to run an event like this. We need help at all levels, both physical and non-physical.
The Barney Ferguson Emerald Legacy Fund 9th Annual Awards Dinner was held on Thursday August 22 at Juliano’s Restaurant in New Rochelle and we have a full page of pictures in the paper this week courtesy of Brian Sharkey.
Barney Ferguson was born in 1936 and raised in the South Bronx in Saint Luke’s Parish. He was the 4th of 5 children born to Mae (May) McGlynn and William Ferguson who hailed from County Leitrim, Ireland.
His father was a Dept. of Public Works foreman and built many of the City streets that Barney would later patrol and help keep safe. Barney was educated at P.S. 65, St Luke’s, Samuel Gompers High School, City College and Iona College.
Barney joined the ranks of New York’s Finest in 1957. After the academy he was assigned to the 30th Pct. and later to Manhattan North Homicide as a Detective. During his career he was very active in many organizations and served as President for: the NYPD Retired Detectives, the NYPD Emerald Society, County Leitrim Society and The Grand Council of Emerald Societies. He was also a trustee of the Detectives Endowment Association and was Vice President of the Police Anchor Club-Knights of Columbus. After 22 years of dedicated service he retired in 1979 after suffering a broken back capturing a murder suspect.
Barney received dozens of awards from many Police, Irish and Civic organizations. Including: the NYPD Anchor Club’s Man of the Year, the Bronx Conservative Party’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the Westchester Police Emerald’s Irishman of the Year.
In one of the greatest honors of his life, Barney was elected to serve as Grand Marshal for the New York City St Patrick’s Day Parade in 1978. In so doing, Barney made Irish and Police history. In the entire 260 year history of this world renowned parade he remains the only active member of the police force to ever serve as Grand Marshal.
Despite three battles with cancer and losing 80% of his eyesight Barney continued to be active many organizations including: Public Relations Director for the Shields, Trustee for the Police Emerald Society of Westchester – which he helped found and whose annual cruise is named in his honor, the Board of Directors for the NYPD-Emerald Society, the NYPD Retired Detectives former president, NY-NJ Detectives Crime Clinic, the Irish Immigration Center, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, the Holy Name Society, the Hibernians, the IPA, FOP, NLEA, the NYPD widows and children’s fund which he has personally raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. Barney was in the forefront of NYPD and Irish-American activities for over 60 years. In 1960 he married his High School sweetheart Jean Archambault and they were married for 53 years before their deaths in 2014, dying only five months apart.
See you all again next week when I am Out&About again…