Grand marshal of NYC St Patrick's Day parade has Limerick connections
The grand marshal of this year's New York City St Patrick's Day parade is a man with Limerick connections.
Kevin J. Conway will take the coveted role this Friday as the parade takes to the streets of Manhattan. A delegation from Limerick, including Mayor Frances Foley, are due to attend the parade.
Living in Long Island with his family, the businessman is vice chairman of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice and LLC, a global private equity firm.
Mr Conway is also a trustee in the Carnegie Corporation of New York, vice chair of the board of Student Sponsor Partners, a board member of Catholic Health Services of Long Island and a board member of the New York Catholic Foundation.
A native New Yorker who was born in Queens, he is one of five children of James and Dolores (Gilhooly) Conway.
His parents were both of Irish descent and he can track his relatives to numerous locations in Ireland including Drumshanbo in Leitrim, Newmarket in Cork, as well as Meath and Limerick.
One of the largest parades in the world, the NCY parade will feature 250,000 participants including marching bands from around the world as well as bagpipers.
Around two million spectators are expected in the city for the St Patrick’s Day parade, which first began in 1762.
St Patrick is also the patron Saint of the Archdiocese of New York.
Earlier this month, a delegation from Limerick City and County Council, travelled to Queens, New York where they kicked off the Irish celebrations earlier than the rest of the world.
Cllr Olivia O'Sullivan, Cathaoirleach of the Metropolitan District of Limerick led the delegation from Limerick City and County Council at the Queens County St Patrick’s Parade in Rockaway Beach and she was joined by Councillor Liam Galvin, the president of the parade committee, Michael Benn, who hails from the Treaty County and NY State Attorney General Letitia James, an American lawyer and politician.