Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame Announces the 2009 Honorees
Letter from the President
The Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame will present the Annual Awards Dinner on November 15th, 2009. This year marks the 9th season of us honoring so many worth-
while candidates. We received letters nominating 15 different people and again, it is so difficult to pick from so many wonderful choices. We will have to stay in business for
90 more years to be able to include the amazing Irish/ Irish Americans who have contributed so much to our Community in preserving and continuing the beautiful traditions of our Heritage.
We are a Committee of diversified people, many here from the beginning and the others
are some of our past Honorees. I would like to mention them because each one has a job which they carry out each year to make this event an important part of the Irish Com-
munity. They are Bob Hurst, Vice President; Bill Donahue, Treasurer; Brenda McDonald
Secretary; Carmel and Barney Boyce, Jim Boyle, Jim Coyne, John Donovan, John Egan, Geraldine Quigg, Tom Farrelly, Vince Gallagher, Tom Higgins, Jimmy Meehan, Sean McMenamin, Attracta and Tom O’Malley, John Shields, Maureen Brett Saxon, and Bernadette Browne Truhlar.
The Honorees this year are Sean and Johanna McMenamin; Joseph E. Montgomery; Patrick Egan (posthumously) and a special award is to be giver to Deputy Consul General, Breandan O Caollai.
Sean and Johanna McMenamin are members of the Mayo Association. They have dedicated their lives, here in America, to fostering the continuation of the Commodore Barry Club. Sean had been active on many Boards; Mayo, GAA, Irish Center, and the Commodore Barry Library. Johanna has contributed to Mayo, the Ceili Group, and many fundraisers. They are a special couple; generous, caring and fun. This is the first time that our group has honored a couple.
Joe Montgomery is a well known and highly respected Irish American Activist. He holds the distinction of being the only living person to have an AOH Chapter named after himself. Joe has been a Board Member of the St. Patrick’s Day Observance Association since 1960; its President in 1976-77 and unanimously named Grand Marshal in 1993. A true Gentleman in everyway, Joe Montgomery, has 90 years of dedication to the Irish Community.
Patrick Egan (1924-2005) is our Posthumous Honoree. He was born in Clydagh, Head-
ford, Co. Galway. Married to Bridie Feeley for 50 years, he was the proud Father to 10 children. Pat was very involved with Irish football for many years. He played for the Galway team as their Captain and was Secretary of the GAA from 1948- 1954. He was a long standing member of the Galway Society and President 3 or 4 times. Pat’s sweet smile and gentle demeanor is sorely missed by all.
Finally, the Deputy Consul General Breandan O Caollai, the man who brought us the LE Eithne, will be given a special award, for his special kindnesses to our beloved Irish Center.
By: Kathy McGee Burns, President Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame