Mullahoran man appointed aide to Grand Marshal for New York St Patrick’s Day Parade

A Mullahoran man has been selected as one of 17 people to serve as aides to the Grand Marshal set to lead the upcoming New York St Patrick’s Day Parade.

Aides are chosen annually by the parade’s participating organisations in recognition of their outstanding service to the Irish-American community of New York.

The selection of an aide is acknowledgement of years of unselfish, dedicated, and distinguished service to the New York and Irish communities and for their contribution to Irish faith, culture and heritage.

Michael O’Reilly was picked for his work as president of the Cavan P & B Association of New York, and also with the United Irish Counties Association of New York.

The 2024 Grand Marshal is Maggie Timoney, president & CEO of Heineken USA.

The New York City St Patrick’s Day Parade marched for the first time in 1762, 14 years before the Declaration of Independence was signed in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, and is regarded as the most popular of all the annual parades in New York City.

A dinner dance to mark the installation of the aides to their respective roles took place at the weekend in Queens.

Speaking to the Celt, Mr O’Reilly said it was a “huge honour”.

He recalls first going to New York and seeing the parade in person back in 1983, and never did he expect that nearly 40 years later he’d be marching up front behind the Grand Marshal.

“Being at the parade 41 years ago, seeing it marching by, thinking now that I’d be in the first or second or third row maybe from the front, it really is an incredible thing and a huge honour. It’s not something I could have envisioned.”