Tuesday, March 8, 2011
IRISH HERITAGE MONTH IN WESTCHESTER
Westchester County
Legislators Declare
March as Irish Heritage Month
March as Irish Heritage Month
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| March 2011 was declared Irish Heritage Month in Westchester Co. |
WHITE PLAINS, NY – The month of March is recognized
nationally as Irish History Month, and last Monday, the Westchester County
Board of Legislators celebrated the 250th anniversary of the NYC St. Patrick's
Day Parade, our country's oldest and proudest Irish tradition during its annual
Irish History & Heritage Celebration. Board Chairman Ken Jenkins (D-Yonkers)
was joined by county legislators along with local community stakeholders,
clergy, business leaders and elected officials to celebrate the accomplishments
of Irish-Americans in Westchester County. "Even before the birth of our
Nation, the sons and daughters of Erin departed their homes in search of liberty
and a more hopeful future," said Chairman Jenkins. "As these
early pioneers left familiar lands, they carried with them the rich traditions
of home. This March, we honor their journey and their lasting contributions to
the history and culture of the United States. I am thrilled that the
Board paused to acknowledge this historic milestone within the Irish-American
community."
Chairman Jenkins, Minority Leader James Maisano (R-Pelham), Legislators William
J. Ryan (D-White Plains), Sheila Marcotte (R-Eastchester) and John
G. Testa (R-Peekskill) were join by county legislators, along with Brian
Kelly, President of the Westchester County chapter of the Ancient Order of
Hibernians, local community stakeholders, clergy and business leaders to
celebrate their annual program. Guests were delighted by performances of
traditional Irish dance & folk music by the O'Rourke Irish Dancers of White
Plains, the Fair-Haired Tinkers of Elmsford and the Westchester County Police
Emerald Society Pipes and Drum Band.
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| Hilary Beirne addresses the Westchester County Legislators |
The Legislature presented a proclamation on behalf of the
residents of Westchester County marking this milestone to Hilary Beirne and
Liam Murphy, members of the NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee. The New
York City Saint Patrick's Day Parade is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization, which hosts 150,000- 250,000 marchers in front of approximately
two million spectators. The Parade is also televised on New York's WNBC-TV to
over half a million households and was web-streamed for the first time in
2008. "On March 17, 1762, Irish soldiers serving in the British Army
in New York marched on St. Patrick's Day to display pride in their Irish roots
and to honor the patron saint of Ireland," said Legislator Ryan.
"The parade allowed Irish immigrants the joy of freely expressing their
Irish heritage by the wearing of the green, play bagpipes and speaking the
language of the Emerald Isle, freedoms not permitted in Ireland at that
time. Many Westchester residents and organizations have been honored in
the New York City parade, marched and served vital roles. As a proud son of Erin,
it is truly an honor to join with my colleagues to commemorate this
anniversary."
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| Hilary Beirne Accepts Proclamation from William Ryan(D) |
This annual parade has been held for the past 250 years, in honor of the Patron
Saint of Ireland and the Archdiocese of New York. The Parade is reviewed from
the steps of Saint Patrick's Cathedral by His Eminence Cardinal Timothy Dolan,
Archbishop of New York in the same manner as the Archbishop of New York did in
the early days of the Parade at the Old St. Patrick's Cathedral in Lower
Manhattan, when the Parade was held in Lower Manhattan before the new St Patrick's
was built on Fifth Avenue. "The Legislature was honored to have shared the
evening with representatives from the St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee and
members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians from across the county," said
Legislator Marcotte. "I congratulate Hilary and Liam for all of their hard
work on behalf of the Parade Committee and wish for them a glorious Parade."
