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More than a century after his great-grandfather Daniel Houlihan marched in the 1894 St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York City, Fleetwood resident Joseph Houlihan has been tabbed as the grand marshal of the 2015 Eastchester St. Patrick’s Day parade by the town’s Irish American Social Club.
Houlihan’s Irish roots trace back to the late 1800s, when his great-grandparents emigrated from Kerry, Ireland and spread out across the East Coast, working their way north from Harlem to Westchester County.
A graduate of Iona College, Houlihan, who is a managing partner of the residential sales group at Houlihan and O’Malley Real Estate Services in Bronxville, is an active member of St. Joseph’s Parish and the club. He has chosen his brother, Gerry Houlihan, and his cousin-in-laws, Patricia Houlihan and Jim Coleman, as his “parade aides.”
“I never thought I would have this honor. My family worked hard and became successful through hard work,” he said. “Their humble beginnings in Harlem brought them to Bainbridge Avenue in the Bronx. They belonged to St. Phillip Neri Parish. There is a stained glass window at the church with the Houlihan name on it.
“That work ethic still stands and I am proud to be a part of that history. I think the Eastchester Irish is a great local community group that promotes the continuation of Irish-American traditions and helps us to remember our unpretentious Irish upbringings.”
Also being honored at the parade will be Bronxville residents Stephen and Kathleen Huave. The Eastchester Parade Festival and Installation of the grand marshal will take place Saturday, March 7 at Lake Isle, where they will be awarded their parade sashes.
The parade kicks off at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 15 at the Immaculate Conception Church in Tuckahoe and will travel north on Route 22 to Lake Isle. The parade will feature 10 pipe bands, five Irish dancing troupes, four brass marching bands, a trio of Irish music bands and various local groups and organizations.
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