Delco Officials Recognize Irish Heritage Month

Delaware County officials recolonized Irish Heritage Month and Philadelphia’s 2016 Rose of Tralee at the March 8 County Council meeting.

“Once a year, on St. Patrick’s Day, everyone is Irish,” County Councilman John McBlain said at the meeting.

The 37th annual Springfield St. Patrick’s Day Parade was held on Saturday, March 11 and Joseph “Steve” Burns, who chaired the parade, was recognized at the meeting.

Michael J. Bradley Jr. of Haverford Township, director of the Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade, also received recognition at the meeting. The Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which started in 1771, took place on Sunday, March 12.

“Planning these parades is an enormous undertaking and both Steve and Mike work hard to make them more exciting each year for residents to join in the celebration,” McBlain said.

Councilman Michael Culp recognized Patrick Mulhern, the 2017 Grand Marshal for the Springfield Parade and Chairman Mario Civera recognized Barney Boyce, who is originally from Milford, Donegal County, Ireland, and will be the 2017 Parade Marshal for the Philadelphia Parade.

Councilman Colleen Morrone recognized Brigid Gallagher of Haverford Township, who was selected as Philadelphia’s Rose of Tralee in April 2016.

An Archbishop Carroll graduate, Gallagher has spent the past year serving as an ambassador of the Irish community. In August 2016, she traveled to the Rose of Tralee International Festival in County Kerry, Ireland, along with over 60 other Roses from cities all over the world.

The Rose of Tralee of festival and ceremony is one of the most watched television programs in Ireland each year, and is one of Ireland’s longest running festivals.

“Selected because for her outstanding character and Irish decent, Brigid is a successful career woman, who is highly motivated and driven. At the age of 26, she is the executive director of the Philadelphia Veterans House, a nonprofit organization that provides housing for veterans,” Morrone said at the meeting.

Dancers from the McDade-Cara School of Irish Dance in Springfield performed to close the March 8 meeting.

The school is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the rich tradition of Irish step and figure dancing, the county said.

Pictured above in the first row form left are Mary Conaghan of Glen Mills; Karen Conaghan Race of Havertown and Chairperson of the Rose of Tralee Committee; Brigid Gallagher; Council Vice Chairman Colleen Morrone; Margaret King of Media Borough; and 2013 Philadelphia Rose of Tralee Brittany Carter of Garnet Valley. In back, from left, are Councilmen Michael Culp and John McBlain, Council Chairman Mario Civera, Jr., and Councilman Dave White.

Photo courtesy of Delaware County