Kilkenny couple to represent Ireland for the twentieth time at major event in the USA

A well-known Kilkenny couple have been invited to travel to the USA as guests of honour for the twentieth time at the 43rd annual San Diego St Patrick’s Day Parade and Irish Festival.

John and Angela Byrne, owners of Celtic House B&B on Michael Street are honorary members of the Irish Congress of Southern California.

Their annual visit is always welcomed by the members of the Irish diaspora in San Diego.

John and Angela’s connection to San Diego was established 20 years ago, when an American man appeared at the door of Celtic House looking for a room.

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His name was Jim Whelan and he was from San Diego and in Ireland retracing his roots.

Angela, a self-taught genealogy boffin, decided to help Jim with the task herself on her home computer and within the space of a few minutes she found his relatives and even a picture of his ancestral home.

It turned out that Jim was a big business figure in San Diego and held a lot of influence in the Irish-American community there.

Jim, in an act of gratitude, invited John and Angela over to San Diego to represent Ireland in ‘the largest St Patrick’s Day parade west of the Mississippi’, and the rest is history.

This year, John and Angela will be joined at the parade by fellow guest of honour, American actress Monica Potter.

Angela explained that the entire Potter family are proud of their Irish roots, with many connections in nearby Clonmel.

Monica Potter’s sister has actually visited Kilkenny before, and stayed at Celtic House B&B.

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